SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending May 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 370,000, unchanged from the previous week's revised figure of 370,000. The 4-week moving average was 375,000, a decrease of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average of 379,750.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending May 5, unchanged from the prior week's revised rate.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending May 5 was 3,265,000, an increase of 18,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,247,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,282,750, a decrease of 11,750 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,294,500.
UNADJUSTED DATA The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 322,821 in the week ending May 12, a decrease of 18,259 from the previous week. There were 361,573 initial claims in the comparable week in 2011.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent during the week ending May 5, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,127,783, a decrease of 83,044 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.9 percent and the volume was 3,586,266.
The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending April 28 was 6,273,624, a decrease of 149,759 from the previous week.
Extended benefits were available in Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and West Virginia during the week ending April 28.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,197 in the week ending May 5, a decrease of 7 from the prior week. There were 2,606 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 380 from the preceding week.
There were 17,695 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending April 28, a decrease of 1,814 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 39,689, an increase of 7 from the prior week.
States reported 2,666,007 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending April 28, a decrease of 22,150 from the prior week. There were 3,468,979 claimants in the comparable week in 2011. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending April 28 were in Alaska (5.3), Puerto Rico (3.9), California (3.7), Pennsylvania (3.6), New Jersey (3.5), Oregon (3.5), Connecticut (3.3), Rhode Island (3.2), Illinois (3.1), Nevada (3.1), and Wisconsin (3.1).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending May 5 were in Missouri (+2,569), New York (+2,276), Pennsylvania (+1,674), California (+1,613), and Texas (+1,229), while the largest decreases were in Florida (-2,599), Indiana (-1,735), Connecticut (-1,038), New Hampshire (-836), and Massachusetts (-668).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS WEEK ENDING Advance May 12 May 5 Change April 28 Prior Year1 Initial Claims (SA) 370,000 370,000 0 368,000 418,000 Initial Claims (NSA) 322,821 341,080 -18,259 333,476 361,573 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 375,000 379,750 -4,750 384,250 434,500 WEEK ENDING Advance May 5 April 28 Change April 21 Prior Year1 Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,265,000 3,247,000 +18,000 3,290,000 3,747,000 Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 3,127,783 3,210,827 -83,044 3,292,997 3,586,266 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,282,750 3,294,500 -11,750 3,300,500 3,752,500 Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.6% 2.6% 0.0 2.6% 3.0% Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 2.5% 2.5% 0.0 2.6% 2.9% INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED) WEEK ENDING May 5 April 28 Change Prior Year1 Federal Employees 1,197 1,204 -7 1,449 Newly Discharged Veterans 2,606 2,226 +380 2,470 PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN ALL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED) WEEK ENDING April 28 April 21 Change Prior Year1 Regular State 3,201,525 3,283,672 -82,147 3,711,863 Federal Employees (UCFE) 17,695 19,509 -1,814 26,495 Newly Discharged Veterans (UCX) 39,689 39,682 +7 37,186 EUC 20083 2,666,007 2,688,157 -22,150 3,468,979 Extended Benefits4 304,755 350,579 -45,824 640,042 State Additional Benefits 5 7,079 5,745 +1,334 28,542 STC / Workshare 6 36,874 36,039 +835 45,169 TOTAL 6,273,624 6,423,383 -149,759 7,958,276 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 127,048,587 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 paid, 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 05/5/2012 STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 State Change State Supplied Comment FL -2,599 Fewer layoffs in the trade, agriculture, construction, retail, and service industries.
IN -1,735 No comment.
CT -1,038 No comment.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 State Change State Supplied Comment MO +2,569 Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
NY +2,276 Layoffs in the construction, professional, scientific, technical service, and finance and insurance industries.
PA +1,674 Layoffs in the construction, entertainment, lodging, and food service industries.
CA +1,613 Layoffs in the service industries.
TX +1,229 No comment.
NJ +1,095 Layoffs in the construction, retail, administrative, healthcare and social assistance, professional, technology, and accommodation and food 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/
