EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
ADMINISTRATION |
USDL 04-336-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 4, 2004 |
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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week
ending Feb. 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims
was 345,000, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's revised figure of
352,000. The 4-week moving average was 352,250, a decrease of 3,000 from the
previous week's revised average of 355,250.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.4
percent for the week ending Feb. 21, unchanged from the prior week's revised
rate of 2.4 percent.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during
the week ending Feb. 21 was 3,091,000, unchanged from the preceding week's
revised level of 3,091,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,106,500, a decrease
of 3,750 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,110,250.
UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of
actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 340,399 in the
week ending Feb. 28, an increase of 11,715 from the previous week. There
were 429,003 initial claims in the comparable week in 2003.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent during the
week ending Feb. 21, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted
number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,761,551, an
increase of 30,335 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.3
percent and the volume was 4,192,955.
Extended benefits were available in Alaska during the week ending Feb. 14.
53 states reported that 361,723 individuals filed continued claims under the
Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the
week ending Feb. 14.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled
1,007 in the week ending Feb. 21, a decrease of 250 from the prior week. There
were 1,561 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 99 from
the preceding week.
There were 19,834 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for
the week ending Feb. 14, a decrease of 2,990 from the previous week. Newly
discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 27,769, a decrease of 869 from the
prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Feb. 14 were in
Alaska (6.8 percent), Michigan (4.8), Pennsylvania (4.7), Idaho (4.5), Oregon
(4.4), Wisconsin (4.3), New Jersey (4.1), Massachusetts (4.0), Montana (3.9),
Rhode Island (3.9), and Washington (3.9).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Feb. 21 were in
Massachusetts (+4,649), California (+3,838), Connecticut (+1,530), Rhode Island
(+1,441), and New Jersey (+1,170), while the largest decreases were in Michigan
(-7,498), New York (-2,802), North Carolina (-2,366), Pennsylvania (-2,257), and
Ohio (-1,564).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
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Advance |
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Prior1 |
WEEK ENDING |
Feb. 28 |
Feb. 21 |
Change |
Feb. 14 |
Year |
Initial Claims (SA) |
345,000 |
352,000 |
-7,000 |
344,000 |
436,000 |
Initial Claims
(NSA) |
340,399 |
328,684 |
+11,715 |
341,632 |
429,003 |
4-Wk Moving Average
(SA) |
352,250 |
355,250 |
-3,000 |
352,000 |
408,500 |
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Advance |
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Prior1 |
WEEK ENDING |
Feb. 21 |
Feb. 14 |
Change |
Feb. 7 |
Year |
Ins. Unemployment
(SA) |
3,091,000 |
3,091,000 |
0 |
3,163,000 |
3,471,000 |
Ins. Unemployment
(NSA) |
3,761,551 |
3,731,216 |
+30,335 |
3,776,347 |
4,192,955 |
4-Wk Moving Average
(SA) |
3,106,500 |
3,110,250 |
-3,750 |
3,117,250 |
3,395,500 |
Ins. Unemployment
Rate (SA)2 |
2.4% |
2.4% |
0.0 |
2.5% |
2.7% |
Ins. Unemployment Rate
(NSA)2 |
3.0% |
3.0% |
0.0 |
3.0% |
3.3% |
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Federal Employees |
1,007 |
1,257 |
-250 |
974 |
Newly Discharged Veterans |
1,561 |
1,660 |
-99 |
1,077 |
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS
(UNADJUSTED)
Federal Employees |
19,834 |
22,824 |
-2,990 |
18,260 |
Newly Discharged Veterans |
27,769 |
28,638 |
-869 |
19,792 |
Railroad Retirement Board |
4,000 |
4,000 |
0 |
6,000 |
Extended Benefits |
8,010 |
12,892 |
-4,882 |
17,106 |
Federal (TEUC) |
361,723 |
417,609 |
-55,886 |
689,030 |
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 02/21/2004
STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State |
Change |
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State Supplied Comment |
MI |
-7,498 |
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Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry. |
NY |
-2,802 |
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No comment. |
NC |
-2,366 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction and service
industries. |
PA |
-2,257 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, wood
products, transportation, and fabricated metals industries. |
OH |
-1,564 |
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No comment. |
TN |
-1,229 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, food, electronic
equipment, and fabricated metals industries. |
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State |
Change |
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State Supplied Comment |
IL |
+1,130 |
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Layoffs in the construction, trade, and service
industries. |
NJ |
+1,170 |
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Layoffs in the transportation, warehousing, and service
industries. |
RI |
+1,441 |
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Layoffs in the trade and service industries. |
CT |
+1,530 |
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No comment. |
CA |
+3,838 |
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Layoffs in the construction industry, and
agriculture. |
MA |
+4,649 |
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Increase is school closings related. |
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