EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
ADMINISTRATION |
USDL 03-95 |
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Program Contact: |
TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS |
Thomas Stengle (202) 693-2991 |
RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL |
Media Contact : |
8:30 A.M. (EDT), THURSDAY |
(202) 693-4676 |
March 6, 2003 |
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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending March 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted
initial claims was 430,000, an increase of 12,000 from the previous
week's revised figure of 418,000. The 4-week moving average was 408,750, an
increase of 8,750 from the previous week's revised average of 400,000.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.8
percent for the week ending Feb. 22, an increase of 0.2 percentage point from
the prior week's revised rate of 2.6 percent.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment
during the week ending Feb. 22 was 3,516,000, an increase of 180,000 from
the preceding week's revised level of 3,336,000. The 4-week moving average was
3,391,000, an increase of 44,500 from the preceding week's revised average of
3,346,500.
UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs,
unadjusted, totaled 424,055 in the week ending March 1, an increase
of 36,334 from the previous week. There were 385,272 initial claims in the
comparable week in 2002.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.3 percent during
the week ending Feb. 22, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior
week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state
programs totaled 4,233,714, an increase of 151,027 from the preceding
week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.3 percent and the volume was 4,234,460.
Extended benefits were available in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington
during the week ending Feb. 15.
53 states reported that 689,030 individuals filed continued claims under
the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during
the week ending Feb. 15.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees
totaled 968 in the week ending Feb. 22, a decrease of 275 from the prior week.
There were 1,072 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 137
from the preceding week.
There were 18,294 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits
for the week ending Feb. 15, a decrease of 2,653 from the previous week. Newly
discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 19,824, a decrease of 967 from
the prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Feb. 15 were
in Alaska (7.1 percent), Oregon (5.1), Pennsylvania (5.1), Idaho (5.0),
Wisconsin (4.7), Michigan (4.6), Washington (4.6), Massachusetts (4.1), Puerto
Rico (4.1), Connecticut (4.0), Montana (4.0), and Rhode Island (4.0).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Feb. 22 were
in Pennsylvania (+5,891), Massachusetts (+4,871), Kansas (+2,172), New Jersey
(+1,608), and Connecticut (+1,560), while the largest decreases were in
Michigan (-9,515), Georgia (-3,144), North Carolina (-2,724), Wisconsin
(-1,778), and Texas (-1,324).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE
PROGRAMS
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Advance |
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Prior1 |
WEEK ENDING |
March 1 |
Feb. 22 |
Change |
Feb. 15 |
Year |
Initial Claims (SA) |
430,000 |
418,000 |
+12,000 |
406,000 |
392,000 |
Initial Claims
(NSA) |
424,055 |
387,721 |
+36,334 |
397,703 |
385,272 |
4-Wk Moving
Average (SA) |
408,750 |
400,000 |
+8,750 |
395,750 |
390,750 |
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Advance |
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Prior1 |
WEEK ENDING |
Feb. 22 |
Feb. 15 |
Change |
Feb. 8 |
Year |
Ins. Unemployment
(SA) |
3,516,000 |
3,336,000 |
+180,000 |
3,417,000 |
3,511,000 |
Ins. Unemployment
(NSA) |
4,233,714 |
4,082,687 |
+151,027 |
4,089,677 |
4,234,460 |
4-Wk Moving
Average (SA) |
3,391,000 |
3,346,500 |
+44,500 |
3,336,750 |
3,505,500 |
Ins.
Unemployment Rate (SA)2 |
2.8% |
2.6% |
+0.2 |
2.7% |
2.7% |
Ins. Unemployment Rate
(NSA)2 |
3.3% |
3.2% |
+0.1 |
3.2% |
3.3% |
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS
(UNADJUSTED)
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Prior1 |
WEEK ENDING |
Feb. 22 |
Feb. 15 |
Change |
Year |
Federal Employees |
968 |
1,243 |
-275 |
852 |
Newly Discharged Veterans |
1,072 |
1,209 |
-137 |
917 |
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS
(UNADJUSTED)
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Prior1 |
WEEK ENDING |
Feb. 15 |
Feb. 8 |
Change |
Year |
Federal Employees |
18,294 |
20,947 |
-2,653 |
17,509 |
Newly Discharged Veterans |
19,824 |
20,791 |
-967 |
16,091 |
Railroad Retirement
Board |
7,000 |
7,000 |
0 |
7,000 |
Extended Benefits |
17,106 |
17,238 |
-132 |
34,353 |
Federal (TEUC) |
689,030 |
812,176 |
-123,146 |
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 126,949,730 as denominator.
UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 02/22/2003
STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State |
Change |
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State Supplied Comment |
MI |
-9,515 |
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Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry. |
GA |
-3,144 |
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Fewer layoffs in the textile industry. |
NC |
-2,724 |
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Fewer layoffs in the textile industry. |
WI |
-1,778 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and
manufacturing industries. |
TX |
-1,324 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction and transportation
industries. |
DE |
-1,167 |
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No comment. |
NY |
-1,091 |
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No comment. |
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
RI |
+1,017 |
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Layoffs in the trade and service
industries. |
MD |
+1,152 |
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No comment. |
CT |
+1,560 |
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No comment. |
NJ |
+1,608 |
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Layoffs in the construction, service, transportation,
communications, and public utilities industries. |
KS |
+2,172 |
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Layoffs in the information and manufacturing
industries. |
MA |
+4,871 |
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Increase is school closings related. |
PA |
+5,891 |
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Layoffs in the construction, food, lumber/wood,
stone/clay/glass, primary metals, electrical equipment, and transportation
industries. |
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
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