SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending June 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 427,000, an increase of 1,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 426,000. The 4-week moving average was 424,000, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average of 426,750.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent for the week ending May 28, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.0 percent.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending May 28 was 3,676,000, a decrease of 71,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,747,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,719,250, a decrease of 29,000 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,748,250.
UNADJUSTED DATA The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 364,507 in the week ending June 4, a decrease of 16,990 from the previous week. There were 398,864 initial claims in the comparable week in 2010.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.7 percent during the week ending May 28, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,407,607, a decrease of 102,900 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.3 percent and the volume was 4,202,202.
The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending May 21 was 7,601,344, a decrease of 89,233 from the previous week.
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 Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia, during the week ending May 21.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 2,142 in the week ending May 28, an increase of 483 from the prior week. There were 2,316 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 99 from the preceding week.
There were 23,335 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending May 21, a decrease of 150 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 36,261, a decrease of 478 from the prior week.
States reported 3,372,090 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending May 21, a decrease of 45,515 from the prior week. There were 4,987,711 claimants in the comparable week in 2010. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending May 21 were in Alaska (5.0 percent), Puerto Rico (4.4), Oregon (4.0), California (3.9), Pennsylvania (3.9), Nevada (3.6), Connecticut (3.5), New Jersey (3.5), Illinois (3.3), and Rhode Island (3.3).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending May 28 were in New York (+3,187), Oregon (+1,508), Missouri (+1,158), Illinois (+1,081), Washington (+844), while the largest decreases were in California (-1,614), Wisconsin (-1,032), Massachusetts (-929), New Jersey(-882) and Texas (-659).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS WEEK ENDING Advance June 4 May 28 Change May 21 Prior Year1 Initial Claims (SA) 427,000 426,000 +1,000 429,000 464,000 Initial Claims (NSA) 364,507 381,497 -16,990 376,252 398,864 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 424,000 426,750 -2,750 439,750 468,000 WEEK ENDING Advance May 28 May 21 Change May 14 Prior Year1 Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,676,000 3,747,000 -71,000 3,718,000 4,523,000 Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 3,407,607 3,510,507 -102,900 3,546,842 4,202,202 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,719,250 3,748,250 -29,000 3,749,250 4,623,750 Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.9% 3.0% -0.1 3.0% 3.5% Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 2.7% 2.8% -0.1 2.8% 3.3% INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED) WEEK ENDING May 28 May 21 Change Prior Year1 Federal Employees 2,142 1,659 483 2,010 Newly Discharged Veterans 2,316 2,415 -99 2,460 PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN ALL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED) WEEK ENDING May 21 May 14 Change Prior Year1 Regular State 3,498,800 3,533,910 -35,110 4,361,636 Federal Employees (UCFE) 23,335 23,485 -150 17,236 Newly Discharged Veterans (UCX) 36,261 36,739 -478 37,248 EUC 20083 3,372,090 3,417,605 -45,515 4,987,711 Extended Benefits4 618,459 625,052 -6,593 445,494 State Additional Benefits 5 6,295 6,600 -305 5,368 STC / Workshare 6 46,104 47,186 -1,082 75,564 TOTAL 7,601,344 7,690,577 -89,233 9,930,257 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 125,572,661 as denominator. 3 - EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity. Tier-specific EUC data can be found here: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/docs/persons.xls4 - Information on the EB program can be found here: http://www.ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/extenben.asp 5 - Some states maintain additional benefit programs for those claimants who exhaust regular, extended and emergency benefits. Information on states that participate and the extent of benefits can be found starting on page 4-5 of this link: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2010/special.pdf 6 - Information on STC/Worksharing can be found starting on page 4-9 of the following link: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2010/special.pdf UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 05/28/2011 STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 State Change State Supplied Comment CA -1,614 No comment.
WI -1,032 No comment.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 State Change State Supplied Comment IL +1,081 Layoffs in the construction, trade and service industries.
MO +1,158 The figure reflected impact of tornadoes of the previous week. Also, layoffs in the construction and service industries.
OR +1,508 No comment.
NY +3,187 Layoffs in the construction, manufacturing and service industries.
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/
