The Pulse of Economic Change: Displaced Workers of 1981-85

Abstract

One of the harsh realities of economic change is the closing of plants or the severe cutbacks in their operations The mass layoffs create instant pockets of unemployment, often made up of people with years of dedicated service and acquired skills and no place to apply them The ability of these workers to readjust after plant closings or large cutbacks has been a subject of considerable interest to policymakers, labor leaders, and economic analysts In January 1986, the Employment and Training Administration sponsored a special supplement to the Current Population Survey designed to answer some of the questions about displaced workers . The survey was almost identical to a study conducted in January 1984, which permitted additional insight into the problem.' The principal findings of the survey include: