EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
ADMINISTRATION |
USDL 04-280-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 26, 2004 |
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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending Feb. 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial
claims was 350,000, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's unrevised
figure of 344,000. The 4-week moving average was 354,750, an increase of 2,750
from the previous week's revised average of 352,000.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent
for the week ending Feb. 14, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate
of 2.5 percent. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during
the week ending Feb. 14 was 3,102,000, a decrease of 62,000 from the preceding
week's revised level of 3,164,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,113,250,
a decrease of 4,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,117,500.
UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted,
totaled 327,147 in the week ending Feb. 21, a decrease of 14,281 from
the previous week. There were 387,068 initial claims in the comparable week
in 2003.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent during the
week ending Feb. 14, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number
for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,743,681, a decrease
of 34,390 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.2 percent
and the volume was 4,089,902.
Extended benefits were available in Alaska during the week ending Feb. 7. 53 states reported that 417,609 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending Feb. 7.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,256 in the week ending Feb. 14, a decrease of 69 from the prior week. There were 1,653 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 328 from the preceding week.
There were 22,874 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Feb. 7, an increase of 1,299 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 28,633, an increase of 376 from the prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Feb. 7 were in Alaska (7.0 percent), Idaho (5.1), Michigan (4.6), Pennsylvania (4.6), Oregon (4.5), Wisconsin (4.4), New Jersey (4.1), Rhode Island (4.1), Washington (4.1), Massachusetts (4.0), and Puerto Rico (4.0).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Feb. 14 were in
Michigan (+1,423), Alabama (+646), Mississippi (+241), Louisiana (+74), and
Vermont (+25), while the largest decreases were in North Carolina (-16,139),
California (-12,879), Pennsylvania (-6,931), Illinois (-5,586), and Missouri
(-5,139).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
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Advance |
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Prior1 |
WEEK ENDING |
Feb. 21 |
Feb. 14 |
Change |
Feb. 7 |
Year |
Initial Claims (SA) |
350,000 |
344,000 |
+6,000 |
368,000 |
412,000 |
Initial Claims
(NSA) |
327,147 |
341,428 |
-14,281 |
433,236 |
387,068 |
4-Wk Moving Average
(SA) |
354,750 |
352,000 |
+2,750 |
351,750 |
399,000 |
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Advance |
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Prior1 |
WEEK ENDING |
Feb. 14 |
Feb. 7 |
Change |
Jan. 31 |
Year |
Ins. Unemployment
(SA) |
3,102,000 |
3,164,000 |
-62,000 |
3,081,000 |
3,369,000 |
Ins. Unemployment
(NSA) |
3,743,681 |
3,778,071 |
-34,390 |
3,851,117 |
4,089,902 |
4-Wk Moving Average
(SA) |
3,113,250 |
3,117,500 |
-4,250 |
3,106,250 |
3,386,500 |
Ins. Unemployment
Rate (SA)2 |
2.5% |
2.5% |
0.0 |
2.4% |
2.7% |
Ins. Unemployment Rate
(NSA)2 |
3.0% |
3.0% |
0.0 |
3.1% |
3.2% |
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Federal Employees |
1,256 |
1,325 |
-69 |
1,243 |
Newly Discharged Veterans |
1,653 |
1,981 |
-328 |
1,209 |
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS
(UNADJUSTED)
Federal Employees |
22,874 |
21,575 |
+1,299 |
20,947 |
Newly Discharged Veterans |
28,633 |
28,257 |
+376 |
20,791 |
Railroad Retirement Board |
5,000 |
5,000 |
0 |
7,000 |
Extended Benefits |
12,892 |
13,731 |
-839 |
17,238 |
Federal (TEUC) |
417,609 |
496,346 |
-78,737 |
812,176 |
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 02/14/2004
STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State |
Change |
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State Supplied Comment |
NC |
-16,139 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction, textile, apparel, furniture,
and lumber/wood industries. |
CA |
-12,879 |
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Fewer layoffs in the service industry. |
PA |
-6,931 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, wood products,
and transportation industries. |
IL |
-5,586 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction and trade industries. |
MO |
-5,139 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, stone/clay/glass,
public administration, transportation, communications, and public utilities
industries. |
SC |
-5,062 |
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Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry. |
NY |
-3,985 |
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No comment. |
VA |
-3,425 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction and manufacturing industries. |
NJ |
-3,387 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries. |
GA |
-3,278 |
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Fewer layoffs in the textile industry. |
OH |
-2,593 |
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No comment. |
TX |
-2,201 |
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Fewer layoffs in the finance, service, and manufacturing
industries. |
MN |
-1,877 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction and manufacturing industries. |
OR |
-1,842 |
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No comment. |
WI |
-1,752 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and manufacturing
industries. |
WA |
-1,724 |
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No comment. |
KS |
-1,677 |
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Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry. |
IN |
-1,424 |
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No comment. |
KY |
-1,269 |
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No comment. |
MA |
-1,091 |
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No comment. |
MD |
-1,087 |
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No comment. |
FL |
-1,074 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing
industries. |
AR |
-1,008 |
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No comment. |
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State |
Change |
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State Supplied Comment |
MI |
+1,423 |
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Layoffs in the automobile industry. |
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