EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 09-179-NAT Program Contact: TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS Scott Gibbons (202) 693-3008 RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL Tony Sznoluch (202) 693-3176 8:30 A.M. (EST), THURSDAY Media Contact : Feb. 26, 2009 (202) 693-4676 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Feb. 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 667,000, an increase of 36,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 631,000. The 4-week moving average was 639,000, an increase of 19,000 from the previous week's revised average of 620,000.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.8 percent for the week ending Feb. 14, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.7 percent.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Feb. 14 was 5,112,000, an increase of 114,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 4,998,000. The 4-week moving average was 4,932,250, an increase of 89,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 4,843,000.
The fiscal year-to-date average for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment for all programs is 4.466 million.
UNADJUSTED DATA The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 602,730 in the week ending Feb. 21, a decrease of 17,221 from the previous week. There were 329,925 initial claims in the comparable week in 2008.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.6 percent during the week ending Feb. 14, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 6,098,530, an increase of 126,384 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.5 percent and the volume was 3,298,510.
Extended benefits were available in Alaska, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, and Rhode Island during the week ending Feb. 7.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,244 in the week ending Feb. 14, a decrease of 252 from the prior week. There were 1,941 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 75 from the preceding week.
There were 19,559 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Feb. 7, a decrease of 1,675 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 28,129, an increase of 97 from the prior week.
States reported 1,393,834 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending Feb. 7, a decrease of 157,312 from the prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Feb. 7 were in Michigan (7.5 percent), Oregon (7.3), Idaho (7.0), Wisconsin (6.4), Pennsylvania (6.2), Nevada (5.9), Montana (5.7), Rhode Island (5.7), Alaska (5.6), Indiana (5.5), and New Jersey (5.5).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Feb. 14 were in New Jersey (+2,093), Virginia (+912), Rhode Island (+493), Vermont (+106), and South Dakota (+22), while the largest decreases were in California (-16,550), Kentucky (-7,741), Pennsylvania (-6,547), Illinois (-6,248), and New York (-3,955).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS Advance Prior1 WEEK ENDING Feb. 21 Feb. 14 Change Feb. 7 Year Initial Claims (SA) 667,000 631,000 +36,000 627,000 359,000 Initial Claims (NSA) 602,730 619,951 -17,221 710,152 329,925 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 639,000 620,000 +19,000 608,500 347,750 Advance Prior1 WEEK ENDING Feb. 14 Feb. 7 Change Jan. 31 Year Ins. Unemployment (SA) 5,112,000 4,998,000 +114,000 4,820,000 2,744,000 Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 6,098,530 5,972,146 +126,384 5,953,114 3,298,510 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 4,932,250 4,843,000 +89,250 4,747,750 2,746,500 Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 3.8% 3.7% +0.1 3.6% 2.1% Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 4.6% 4.5% +0.1 4.4% 2.5% INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED) Prior1 WEEK ENDING Feb. 14 Feb. 7 Change Year Federal Employees 1,244 1,496 -252 879 Newly Discharged Veterans 1,941 2,016 -75 1,426 PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED) Prior1 WEEK ENDING Feb. 7 Jan. 31 Change Year Federal Employees 19,559 21,234 -1,675 16,413 Newly Discharged Veterans 28,129 28,032 +97 23,306 Railroad Retirement Board 9,000 9,000 0 4,000 Extended Benefits 2,710 1,309 +1,401 0 EUC 2008 1,393,834 1,551,146 -157,312 0 FOOTNOTES SA - Seasonally Adjusted Data NSA - Not Seasonally Adjusted Data 1 - Prior year is comparable to most recent data. 2 - Most recent week used covered employment of 133,886,830 as denominator.
STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 State Change State Supplied Comment CA -16,550 Fewer layoffs in the trade and service industries.
KY -7,741 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
PA -6,547 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and transportation industries.
IL -6,248 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and manufacturing industries.
NY -3,955 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries.
OH -3,783 No comment.
MI -3,704 No comment.
WI -3,698 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and manufacturing industries.
FL -3,486 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries, and agriculture.
TN -3,343 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
AR -3,155 Fewer layoffs in the trade industry.
NC -3,026 Fewer layoffs in the textile, electrical equipment, and electronic equipment industries.
GA -2,967 Fewer layoffs in the textile industry.
KS -2,884 No comment.
MO -2,313 Fewer layoffs in the construction and trade industries.
WA -1,989 No comment.
OR -1,812 No comment.
IA -1,726 No comment.
AL -1,614 Fewer layoffs in the primary metals and transportation equipment industries.
IN -1,556 Fewer layoffs in the automobile, transportation, trade, and manufacturing industries.
MA -1,309 No comment.
TX -1,187 Fewer layoffs in the trade, service, and information industries.
MD -1,158 No comment.
PR -1,104 No comment.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 State Change State Supplied Comment NJ +2,093 Layoffs in the trade, service, transportation, warehousing, and manufacturing industries.
State Detail Prior Week UI Claims Series 1967 to current
