SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Dec. 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 452,000, a decrease of 28,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 480,000. The 4-week moving average was 465,250, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average of 468,000.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.9 percent for the week ending Dec. 12, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.9 percent.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Dec. 12 was 5,076,000, a decrease of 127,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 5,203,000. The 4-week moving average was 5,233,000, a decrease of 90,000 from the preceding week's revised average of 5,323,000.
The fiscal year-to-date average for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment for all programs is 5.673 million.
UNADJUSTED DATA The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 561,902 in the week ending Dec. 19, an increase of 6,492 from the previous week. There were 719,615 initial claims in the comparable week in 2008.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.1 percent during the week ending Dec. 12, an increase of 0.2 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 5,385,774, an increase of 193,030 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.4 percent and the volume was 4,594,820.
Extended benefits were available in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin during the week ending Dec. 5.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 2,117 in the week ending Dec. 12, an increase of 26 from the prior week. There were 2,150 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 261 from the preceding week.
There were 26,320 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Dec. 5, an increase of 142 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 36,224, a decrease of 784 from the prior week.
States reported 4,368,107 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending Dec. 5, an increase of 141,807 from the prior week. There were 1,482,317 claimants in the comparable week in 2008. EUC weekly claims include first, second, and third tier activity.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Dec. 5 were in Puerto Rico (6.4 percent), Oregon (5.9), Pennsylvania (5.6), Wisconsin (5.6), Alaska (5.4), Washington (5.2), Idaho (5.1), Nevada (5.1), California (4.9), Michigan (4.9), and North Carolina (4.9).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Dec. 12 were in Puerto Rico (+1,260), Louisiana (+1,123), Nebraska (+941), Maine (+728), and the District of Columbia (+696), while the largest decreases were in North Carolina (-14,374), Pennsylvania (-14,302), New York (-13,432), Georgia (-11,142), and Wisconsin (-10,650).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS Advance Prior1 WEEK ENDING Dec. 19 Dec. 12 Change Dec. 5 Year Initial Claims (SA) 452,000 480,000 -28,000 475,000 564,000 Initial Claims (NSA) 561,902 555,410 +6,492 665,682 719,615 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 465,250 468,000 -2,750 473,250 546,250 Advance Prior1 WEEK ENDING Dec. 12 Dec. 5 Change Nov. 28 Year Ins. Unemployment (SA) 5,076,000 5,203,000 -127,000 5,183,000 4,331,000 Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 5,385,774 5,192,744 +193,030 5,400,752 4,594,820 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 5,233,000 5,323,000 -90,000 5,425,500 4,286,250 Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 3.9% 3.9% 0.0 3.9% 3.2% Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 4.1% 3.9% +0.2 4.1% 3.4% INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED) Prior1 WEEK ENDING Dec. 12 Dec. 5 Change Year Federal Employees 2,117 2,091 +26 2,199 Newly Discharged Veterans 2,150 2,411 -261 2,056 PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED) Prior1 WEEK ENDING Dec. 5 Nov. 28 Change Year Federal Employees 26,320 26,178 +142 18,655 Newly Discharged Veterans 36,224 37,008 -784 25,047 Railroad Retirement Board 10,000 10,000 0 4,000 Extended Benefits 363,956 508,695 -144,739 3,361 EUC 20083 4,368,107 4,226,300 +141,807 1,482,317 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 131,823,421 as denominator. 3 - EUC weekly claims include first, second, and third tier activity.
UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 12/12/2009 STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 State Change State Supplied Comment NC -14,374 Fewer layoffs in the textile, construction, service, rubber/plastics, electrical equipment, and electronic equipment industries.
PA -14,302 Fewer layoffs in the construction, service, transportation, and transportation equipment industries.
NY -13,432 Fewer layoffs in the construction, service, and transportation industries.
GA -11,142 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries.
WI -10,650 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and manufacturing industries.
CA -10,515 Decrease due to administrative factors, as well as fewer layoffs in the service industry, and agriculture.
FL -5,678 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries, and agriculture.
TX -4,588 Fewer layoffs in the information, service, and manufacturing industries.
MI -4,407 Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry.
WA -3,134 No comment.
MN -2,766 No comment.
TN -2,734 Fewer layoffs in the construction, service, and manufacturing industries.
AL -2,727 Fewer layoffs in the apparel, furniture, and primary metals industries.
VA -2,579 No comment.
SC -2,242 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
AR -1,691 No comment.
OR -1,286 No comment.
OH -1,271 No comment.
MO -1,165 Fewer layoffs in the transportation, warehousing, and manufacturing industries.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 State Change State Supplied Comment LA +1,123 No comment.
PR +1,260 No comment.
State Detail Prior Week UI Claims Series 1967 to current This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-693-4676. TDD Message Phone: 1-800-326-2577. News releases from the U.S. Department of Labor are accessible on the Internet at: http://www.dol.gov/ and http://www.ows.doleta.gov/
