EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
ADMINISTRATION |
USDL 04-229-NAT |
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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. (EST), THURSDAY |
(202) 693-4676 |
February 19, 2004 |
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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending Feb. 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial
claims was 344,000, a decrease of 24,000 from the previous week's revised
figure of 368,000. The 4-week moving average was 352,000, an increase of 250 from
the previous week's revised average of 351,750.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent
for the week ending Feb. 7, an increase of 0.1 from the prior week's unrevised
rate of 2.4 percent. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during
the week ending Feb. 7 was 3,186,000, an increase of 106,000 from the preceding
week's revised level of 3,080,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,122,750,
an increase of 16,750 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,106,000.
UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted,
totaled 340,973 in the week ending Feb. 14, a decrease of 92,263 from
the previous week. There were 397,703 initial claims in the comparable week
in 2003.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent during the
week ending Feb. 7, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number
for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,803,967, a decrease
of 45,742 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.2 percent
and the volume was 4,089,677.
Extended benefits were available in Alaska during the week ending Jan. 31. 53 states reported that 496,346 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending Jan. 31.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,325 in the week ending Feb. 7, a decrease of 118 from the prior week. There were 1,981 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 94 from the preceding week.
There were 21,646 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Jan. 31, a decrease of 3,137 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 28,203, a decrease of 973 from the prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Jan. 31 were in Alaska (6.7 percent), Pennsylvania (4.8), Idaho (4.7), Michigan (4.7), Oregon (4.7), Puerto Rico (4.7), Wisconsin (4.5), Washington (4.2), Massachusetts (4.1), Montana (4.1), and New Jersey (4.1).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Feb. 7 were in North Carolina (+20,187), South Carolina (+5,821), Texas (+3,202), Georgia (+3,026), and Virginia (+2,180), while the largest decreases were in Ohio (-2,569), Wisconsin (-2,419), Maryland (-2,009), Maine (-1,411), and Connecticut (-1,081).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
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Advance |
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Prior1 |
WEEK ENDING |
Feb. 14 |
Feb. 7 |
Change |
Jan. 31 |
Year |
Initial Claims (SA) |
344,000 |
368,000 |
-24,000 |
357,000 |
408,000 |
Initial Claims
(NSA) |
340,973 |
433,236 |
-92,263 |
406,295 |
397,703 |
4-Wk Moving Average
(SA) |
352,000 |
351,750 |
+250 |
345,500 |
394,000 |
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Advance |
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Prior1 |
WEEK ENDING |
Feb. 7 |
Jan. 31 |
Change |
Jan. 24 |
Year |
Ins. Unemployment
(SA) |
3,186,000 |
3,080,000 |
+106,000 |
3,106,000 |
3,431,000 |
Ins. Unemployment
(NSA) |
3,803,967 |
3,849,709 |
-45,742 |
3,773,446 |
4,089,677 |
4-Wk Moving Average
(SA) |
3,122,750 |
3,106,000 |
+16,750 |
3,117,750 |
3,376,500 |
Ins. Unemployment
Rate (SA)2 |
2.5% |
2.4% |
+0.1 |
2.5% |
2.7% |
Ins. Unemployment Rate
(NSA)2 |
3.0% |
3.0% |
0.0 |
3.0% |
3.2% |
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Federal Employees |
1,325 |
1,443 |
-118 |
1,243 |
Newly Discharged Veterans |
1,981 |
1,887 |
+94 |
1,441 |
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS
(UNADJUSTED)
Federal Employees |
21,646 |
24,783 |
-3,137 |
20,456 |
Newly Discharged Veterans |
28,203 |
29,176 |
-973 |
20,527 |
Railroad Retirement Board |
6,000 |
6,000 |
0 |
7,000 |
Extended Benefits |
13,731 |
9,569 |
+4,162 |
17,478 |
Federal (TEUC) |
496,346 |
546,914 |
-50,568 |
684,095 |
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 126,250,343 as denominator.
UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 02/07/2004
STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State |
Change |
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State Supplied Comment |
OH |
-2,569 |
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No comment. |
WI |
-2,419 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and manufacturing
industries. |
MD |
-2,009 |
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Fewer layoffs in the furniture and manufacturing industries. |
ME |
-1,411 |
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Fewer layoffs in the trade and paper industries. |
CT |
-1,081 |
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No comment. |
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State |
Change |
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State Supplied Comment |
FL |
+1,414 |
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Layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing
industries. |
MO |
+1,620 |
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Layoffs in the construction industry. |
VA |
+2,180 |
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Layoffs in the construction, information, transportation,
and manufacturing industries. |
GA |
+3,026 |
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Layoffs in the textile industry. |
TX |
+3,202 |
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Layoffs in the service and manufacturing industries. |
SC |
+5,821 |
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Layoffs in the manufacturing industry. |
NC |
+20,187 |
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Layoffs in the construction, service, textile, furniture,
and lumber/wood industries. |
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