EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
ADMINISTRATION |
USDL 04-366-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 |
March 11, 2004 |
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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending March 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial
claims was 341,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised figure
of 347,000. The 4-week moving average was 345,750, a decrease of 6,750 from the
previous week's revised average of 352,500.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.4 percent
for the week ending Feb. 28, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate
of 2.4 percent.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during
the week ending Feb. 28 was 3,032,000, a decrease of 41,000 from the preceding
week's revised level of 3,073,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,089,500,
a decrease of 12,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,101,750.
UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted,
totaled 337,465 in the week ending March 6, a decrease of 4,672 from the
previous week. There were 414,188 initial claims in the comparable week in 2003.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent during the
week ending Feb. 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 3,695,438, a decrease of 44,505 from the preceding week. A year earlier,
the rate was 3.3 percent and the volume was 4,191,412.
Extended benefits were available in Alaska during the week ending Feb. 21.
53 states reported that 302,840 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending Feb. 21.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,219 in the week ending Feb. 28, an increase of 206 from the prior week. There were 1,678 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 112 from the preceding week.
There were 21,897 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Feb. 21, an increase of 2,038 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 29,069, an increase of 1,348 from the prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Feb. 21 were in Alaska (6.8 percent), Puerto Rico (5.6), Michigan (4.7), Idaho (4.5), Oregon (4.4), Rhode Island (4.3), Wisconsin (4.3), Pennsylvania (4.2), Massachusetts (4.1), and New Jersey (4.1).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Feb. 28 were in New York (+13,499), California (+9,719), Oregon (+1,223), Washington (+1,074), and Connecticut (+658), while the largest decreases were in Massachusetts (-4,695), Texas (-1,838), New Jersey (-1,556), Rhode Island (-1,486), and Georgia (-1,020).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
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Advance |
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Prior1 |
WEEK ENDING |
March 6 |
Feb. 28 |
Change |
Feb. 21 |
Year |
Initial Claims (SA) |
341,000 |
347,000 |
-6,000 |
351,000 |
420,000 |
Initial Claims
(NSA) |
337,465 |
342,137 |
-4,672 |
328,162 |
414,188 |
4-Wk Moving Average
(SA) |
345,750 |
352,500 |
-6,750 |
355,000 |
419,000 |
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Advance |
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Prior1 |
WEEK ENDING |
Feb. 28 |
Feb. 21 |
Change |
Feb. 14 |
Year |
Ins. Unemployment
(SA) |
3,032,000 |
3,073,000 |
-41,000 |
3,090,000 |
3,444,000 |
Ins. Unemployment
(NSA) |
3,695,438 |
3,739,943 |
-44,505 |
3,729,443 |
4,191,412 |
4-Wk Moving Average
(SA) |
3,089,500 |
3,101,750 |
-12,250 |
3,110,000 |
3,428,750 |
Ins. Unemployment
Rate (SA)2 |
2.4% |
2.4% |
0.0 |
2.4% |
2.7% |
Ins. Unemployment Rate
(NSA)2 |
2.9% |
3.0% |
-0.1 |
3.0% |
3.3% |
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Federal Employees |
1,219 |
1,013 |
+206 |
1,136 |
Newly Discharged Veterans |
1,678 |
1,566 |
+112 |
1,334 |
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS
(UNADJUSTED)
Federal Employees |
21,897 |
19,859 |
+2,038 |
19,818 |
Newly Discharged Veterans |
29,069 |
27,721 |
+1,348 |
20,648 |
Railroad Retirement Board |
5,000 |
5,000 |
0 |
6,000 |
Extended Benefits |
2,447 |
8,008 |
-5,561 |
17,425 |
Federal (TEUC) |
302,840 |
361,723 |
-58,883 |
822,510 |
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 02/28/2004
STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State |
Change |
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State Supplied Comment |
MA |
-4,695 |
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No comment. |
TX |
-1,838 |
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Fewer layoffs in the service and manufacturing industries. |
NJ |
-1,556 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction, service, transportation,
and warehousing industries. |
RI |
-1,486 |
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Fewer layoffs in the trade and service industries. |
GA |
-1,020 |
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Fewer layoffs in the textile industry. |
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State |
Change |
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State Supplied Comment |
WA |
+1,074 |
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No comment. |
OR |
+1,223 |
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No comment. |
CA |
+9,719 |
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Layoffs in the construction and service industries. |
NY |
+13,499 |
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Increase is seasonal, school closings related. |
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