EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
ADMINISTRATION |
USDL 04-968-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. (EDT), THURSDAY |
(202) 693-4676 |
May 27, 2004 |
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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending May 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial
claims was 344,000, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised
figure of 347,000. The 4-week moving average was 335,500, an increase of 1,500
from the previous week's revised average of 334,000.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.3 percent
for the week ending May 15, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of
2.3 percent.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during
the week ending May 15 was 2,948,000, an increase of 19,000 from the preceding
week's revised level of 2,929,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,937,750,
a decrease of 14,000 from the preceding week's revised average of 2,951,750.
UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted,
totaled 293,457 in the week ending May 22, a decrease of 3,387 from the previous
week. There were 359,500 initial claims in the comparable week in 2003.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.2 percent during the
week ending May 15, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number
for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 2,744,888, a decrease
of 22,961 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.7 percent
and the volume was 3,400,384.
Extended benefits were available in Alaska during the week ending May 8. 15,676 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending May 8.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 952 in the week ending May 15, a decrease of 250 from the prior week. There were 1,755 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 30 from the preceding week.
There were 13,909 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending May 8, a decrease of 1,836 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 25,694, an increase of 2 from the prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending May 8 were in Alaska (4.8 percent), Puerto Rico (4.6), Oregon (3.4), Pennsylvania (3.1), Michigan (3.0), New Jersey (3.0), Washington (2.9), California (2.8), Massachusetts (2.7), Connecticut (2.6), Illinois (2.6), Rhode Island (2.6), and Wisconsin (2.6).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending May 15 were in South Carolina (+2,688), Missouri (+1,700), Michigan (+1,655), Alabama (+1,245), and Virginia (+1,125), while the largest decreases were in California (-1,723), Pennsylvania (-1,541), Minnesota (-1,411), Ohio (-1,116), and Massachusetts (-807).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
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Advance |
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Prior1 |
WEEK ENDING |
May 22 |
May 15 |
Change |
May 8 |
Year |
Initial Claims (SA) |
344,000 |
347,000 |
-3,000 |
333,000 |
419,000 |
Initial Claims
(NSA) |
293,457 |
296,844 |
-3,387 |
292,754 |
359,500 |
4-Wk Moving Average
(SA) |
335,500 |
334,000 |
+1,500 |
336,250 |
421,000 |
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Advance |
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Prior1 |
WEEK ENDING |
May 15 |
May 8 |
Change |
May 1 |
Year |
Ins. Unemployment
(SA) |
2,948,000 |
2,929,000 |
+19,000 |
2,959,000 |
3,676,000 |
Ins. Unemployment
(NSA) |
2,744,888 |
2,767,849 |
-22,961 |
2,831,940 |
3,400,384 |
4-Wk Moving Average
(SA) |
2,937,750 |
2,951,750 |
-14,000 |
2,970,750 |
3,662,250 |
Ins. Unemployment
Rate (SA)2 |
2.3% |
2.3% |
0.0 |
2.3% |
2.9% |
Ins. Unemployment Rate
(NSA)2 |
2.2% |
2.2% |
0.0 |
2.2% |
2.7% |
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Federal Employees |
952 |
1,202 |
-250 |
1,077 |
Newly Discharged Veterans |
1,755 |
1,785 |
-30 |
1,010 |
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS
(UNADJUSTED)
Federal Employees |
13,909 |
15,745 |
-1,836 |
12,927 |
Newly Discharged Veterans |
25,694 |
25,692 |
+2 |
16,725 |
Railroad Retirement Board |
2,000 |
2,000 |
0 |
3,000 |
Extended Benefits |
2,219 |
2,442 |
-223 |
15,959 |
Federal (TEUC) |
15,676 |
17,142 |
-1,466 |
827,900 |
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 126,084,041 as denominator.
UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 05/15/2004
STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State |
Change |
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State Supplied Comment |
CA |
-1,723 |
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Fewer layoffs in the service industry. |
PA |
-1,541 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and food
industries. |
MN |
-1,411 |
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Fewer layoffs in the transportation equipment industry. |
OH |
-1,116 |
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No comment. |
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State |
Change |
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State Supplied Comment |
VA |
+1,125 |
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Layoffs in the manufacturing industry. |
AL |
+1,245 |
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Layoffs in the textile industry. |
MI |
+1,655 |
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Layoffs in the automobile industry. |
MO |
+1,700 |
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Layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries. |
SC |
+2,688 |
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Layoffs in the textile industry. |
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