Mass Layoff Statistics (ML) ml.txt Section Listing 1. Survey Definition 2. FTP files listed in the survey directory 3. Time series, series file, data file, & mapping file definitions and relationships 4. Series file format and field definitions 5. Data file format and field definitions 6. Mapping file formats and field definitions 7. Data Element Dictionary ======================================================================== Section 1 ======================================================================== The following is a definition of: Mass Layoff Statistics (ML) Survey Description: The Mass Layoff Statistics program is a Federal-State cooperative statistical effort which uses a standardized, automated approach to identify, describe, and track the effects of major job cutbacks, using data from each State's unemployment insurance database. Private sector nonfarm establishments which have at least 50 initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) filed against them during a consecutive 5-week period are contacted by State agencies to determine whether those separations are of at least 31 days duration, and, if so, information is obtained on the total number of persons separated, the reasons for these separations, and recall expectations. Establishments are identified according to industry classification and location, and unemployment insurance claimants are identified by such demographic characteristics as age, race, sex, ethnic group, and place of residence. The program yields information on an individual's entire spell of unemployment, to the point when regular unemployment insurance benefits are exhausted. It provides databases of establishments and claimants, both of which are used for further research and analysis. Summary Data Available: Monthly data report summary information on establishments which have at least 50 initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) filed against them during a 5-week period. Data are available for 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, as well as by industry. Quarterly data report on private sector nonfarm establishments which have at least 50 initial claims filed against them during a 5-week period and where the employer indicates that 50 or more people were separated from their jobs for at least 31 days. Information is obtained on the total number of persons separated; the reasons for separation; worksite closures; recall expectations; and socioeconomic characteristics on UI claimants such as gender, age, race, and residency. These characteristics are collected at two points in time; when an initial claim is filed and when the claimant exhausts regular UI benefits. In between these points, the unemployment status of claimants is tracked through the monitoring of certifications for unemployment (continued claims) filed under the regular State UI program. Data are available for 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, as well as by industry. Frequency of Observations: Monthly, quarterly, and annual data are available for 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Monthly data are available since April 1995; quarterly data since second quarter 1995. Data Characteristics: Data are reported to the nearest whole number. Updating Schedule: Mass layoff statistics are updated monthly. Additional updates for extended mass layoffs are published quarterly and annually. ======================================================================== Section 2 ======================================================================== The following Mass Layoff Statistics files are on the BLS internet in the sub-directory pub/time.series/ml: ml.contacts - Contacts for ML survey ml.data.0.Current - All current year-to-date data ml.data.1.AllData - All data ml.dataelement - Dataelement codes (mapping file) ml.dataseries - dataseries codes ml.footnote - Footnote codes (mapping file) ml.industrybase - Industry classification codes(mapping file) ml.irc - IRC (Industry/Reason) Characteristic)codes (mapping file) ml.period - Period codes (mapping file) ml.series - Series codes ml.srd - State/Region/Division Code ml.txt - General information ============================================================================ Section 3 ============================================================================ The definition of a time series, its relationship to and the interrelationship among series, data and mapping files is detailed below: A time series refers to a set of data observed over an extended period of time over consistent time intervals (i.e. monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually). BLS time series data are typically produced at monthly intervals and represent data ranging from a specific consumer item in a specific geographic area whose price is gathered monthly to a category of worker in a specific industry whose employment rate is being recorded monthly, etc. The FTP files are organized such that data users are provided with the following set of files to use in their efforts to interpret data files: a) a series file (only one series file per survey) b) mapping files c) data files The series file contains a set of codes which, together, compose a series identification code that serves to uniquely identify a single time series. Additionally, the series file also contains the following series-level information: a) the period and year corresponding to the first data observation b) the period and year corresponding to the most recent data observation. The mapping files are definition files that contain explanatory text descriptions that correspond to each of the various codes contained within each series identification code. The data file contains one line of data for each observation period pertaining to a specific time series. Each line contains a reference to the following: a) series identification code b) year in which data is observed c) period for which data is observed (M13, Q05, and s03 indicate annual averages) d) value e) footnote code (if available) ============================================================================ Section 4 ============================================================================ File Structure and Format: The following represents the file format used to define ml.series. Note the Field Numbers are for reference only; they do not exist in the database. Data files are in ASCII text format. Data elements are separated by spaces; the first record of each file contains the column headers for the data elements stored in each field. Each record ends with a new line character. Field #/Data Element Length Value(Example) 1. series_id 17 MLUMD10NN0001003 2. dataseries_code 1 M 3. srd_code 3 D10 4. industryb_code 1 N 5. irc_code 5 N0001 6. dataelement_code 3 003 7. footnote_codes 10 1 8. begin_year 4 1995 9. begin_period 3 M02 10. end_year 4 2002 11. end_period 3 M04 The series_id (MLUMD10NN0001003) can be broken out into: Code = Value survey abbreviation = ML seasonal adjustment code = U dataseries_code = M srd_code = D10 industryb_code = N irc_code = N0001 dataelement_code = 003 ============================================================================ Section 5 ============================================================================ File Structure and Format: The following represents the file format used to define each data file. Note that the field numbers are for reference only; they do not exist in the database. Data files are in ASCII text format. Data elements are separated by spaces; the first record of each file contains the column headers for the data elements stored in each field. Each record ends with a new line character. The ml.data file is partitioned into two separate files: 1. ml.data.0.Current = All current year-to-date data 2. ml.data.1.AllData = All data Both of the above data files have the following format: Field #/Data Element Length Value(Example) 1. series_id 17 MLUMD10NN0001003 2. year 4 1998 3. period 3 M01 4. value 12 2360 5. footnote_codes 10 1 The series_id (MLUMD10NN0001003) can be broken out into: Code = Value survey abbreviation = ML seasonal adjustment code = U dataseries_code = M srd_code = D01 industryb_code = N irc_code = N0001 dataelement_code = 003 ============================================================================ Section 6 ============================================================================ File Structure and Format: The following represents the file format used to define each mapping file. Note that the field numbers are for reference only; they do not exist in the database. Mapping files are in ASCII text format. Data elements are separated by tabs; the first record of each file contains the column headers for the data elements stored in each field. Each record ends with a new line character. File Name: ml.dataelement Field #/Data Element Length Value(Example) 1. dataelement_code 3 003 2. dataelement_text 100 Text File Name: ml.dataseries Field #/Data Element Length Value(Example) 1. dataseries_code 1 M 2. dataseries_text 100 Text File Name: ml.footnote Field #/Data Element Length Value(Example) 1. footnote_code 1 1 2. footnote_text 100 Text File Name: ml.industrybase Field #/Data Element Length Value(Example) 1. industryb_code 1 N 2. industryb_text 100 Text File Name: ml.irc Field #/Data Element Length Value(Example) 1. irc_code 5 C0001 2. irc_text 100 Text File Name: ml.period Field #/Data Element Length Value(Example) 1. period 3 M01 2. period_abbr 5 JAN 3. period_name 20 Text File Name: ml.srd Field #/Data Element Length Value(Example) 1. srd_code 3 D10 2. srd_text 100 Text ============================================================================ Section 7 ============================================================================ MASS LAYOFF STATISTICS (ML) DATABASE ELEMENTS Data Element Length Value(Example) Description begin_period 3 M01-M12, Identifies first data Q01-Q04 observation within the Ex: M06=June first year for which data (M=Monthly, are available for a given Q=Quarterly) time series. begin_year 4 YYYY Identifies first year for Ex: 1994 which data are available for a given time series. dataelement_code 3 003-006 Code identifying the dataelement of the observation. dataelement_text 100 Text Dataelement name of the Ex: Initial claimants observation. dataseries_code 1 M=Monthly Identifies whether the Q=Quarterly series contains Monthly or Quarterly data. dataseries_text 100 M=Monthly Text. Q=Quarterly end_period 3 M01-M12 Identifies last data Q01-Q05 observation within the last Ex: M06=June year for which data are (M=Monthly available for a given time Q=Quarterly) series. end_year 4 YYYY Identifies last year for Ex: 1998 which data are available for a given time series. footnote_code 1 1, 2, r, p Identifies footnote for the (r=revised data series. p= preliminary) footnote_codes 10 1 Identifies footnotes for the data series. footnote_text 100 Text of footnote Contains the text of Ex: 1=The event the footnote. realization rate is the percentage of total mass layoff events lasting more than 30 days. industryb_code 1 N=NAICS Identifies industry S=SIC classification code. industryb_text 100 Text Contains text description of industry classification code. irc_code 5 C0001-C0004; Indicates industry, reason, N0001-N0047 and characteristics. R0000-R0090; S0001-S0052 irc_text 100 Text of irc code Contains text description Ex: I01=Total all of irc code. industries period_abbr 5 JAN Abbreviation of period name. period 3 M01-M12 Identifies period for which Q01-Q04 data is observed. Ex: M06=June (M=Monthly, Q=Quarterly) period_name 20 Text Full name of period to which Ex: January the data observation refers. series_id 17 Series identifier Unique series identifier. Ex: MLUMD10NN0001003 srd_code 3 D01-D49, S00-S72 State, Region, and Division Codes srd_txt 100 Text of srd code Identifies the State, Ex: D10=Northeast Region, or Division for which data is observed. value 12 Data value Data value for series year 4 YYYY Identifies year of Ex: 1998 observation