EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
ADMINISTRATION |
USDL 04-786-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 6, 2004 |
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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending May 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial
claims was 315,000, a decrease of 25,000 from the previous week's revised
figure of 340,000. The 4-week moving average was 343,250, a decrease of 3,750
from the previous week's revised average of 347,000.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.3 percent
for the week ending April 24, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior
week's unrevised rate of 2.4 percent.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during
the week ending April 24 was 2,935,000, a decrease of 69,000 from the preceding
week's revised level of 3,004,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,977,750,
a decrease of 15,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 2,993,000.
UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted,
totaled 280,417 in the week ending May 1, a decrease of 34,588 from the previous
week. There were 377,383 initial claims in the comparable week in 2003.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.3 percent during the
week ending April 24, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week.
The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs
totaled 2,934,769, a decrease of 102,684 from the preceding week. A year earlier,
the rate was 2.9 percent and the volume was 3,621,019.
Extended benefits were available in Alaska during the week ending April 17. 23,334 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended
Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending April 17.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,030 in the week ending April 24, a decrease of 18 from the prior week. There were 1,577 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 20 from the preceding week.
There were 16,907 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending April 17, an increase of 945 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 26,315, a decrease of 5 from the prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending April 17 were in
Alaska (5.9 percent), Puerto Rico (3.9), Oregon (3.6), Michigan (3.5), New Jersey
(3.5), Pennsylvania (3.5), Rhode Island (3.3), Wisconsin (3.2), California (3.1),
and Washington (3.1).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending April 24 were in
Massachusetts (+5,228), Michigan (+2,458), North Carolina (+2,006), Connecticut
(+1,781), and Florida (+587), while the largest decreases were in New York (-14,224),
New Jersey (-4,510), Pennsylvania (-2,499), Wisconsin (-2,178), and South Carolina
(-2,155).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
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Advance |
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Prior1 |
WEEK ENDING |
May 1 |
April 24 |
Change |
April 17 |
Year |
Initial Claims (SA) |
315,000 |
340,000 |
-25,000 |
356,000 |
423,000 |
Initial Claims
(NSA) |
280,417 |
315,005 |
-34,588 |
334,965 |
377,383 |
4-Wk Moving Average
(SA) |
343,250 |
347,000 |
-3,750 |
347,750 |
435,250 |
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Advance |
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Prior1 |
WEEK ENDING |
April 24 |
April 17 |
Change |
April 10 |
Year |
Ins. Unemployment
(SA) |
2,935,000 |
3,004,000 |
-69,000 |
3,005,000 |
3,625,000 |
Ins. Unemployment
(NSA) |
2,934,769 |
3,037,453 |
-102,684 |
3,143,186 |
3,621,019 |
4-Wk Moving Average
(SA) |
2,977,750 |
2,993,000 |
-15,250 |
3,004,500 |
3,599,500 |
Ins. Unemployment
Rate (SA)2 |
2.3% |
2.4% |
-0.1 |
2.4% |
2.9% |
Ins. Unemployment Rate
(NSA)2 |
2.3% |
2.4% |
-0.1 |
2.5% |
2.9% |
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Federal Employees |
1,030 |
1,048 |
-18 |
1,022 |
Newly Discharged Veterans |
1,577 |
1,797 |
-20 |
1,114 |
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS
(UNADJUSTED)
Federal Employees |
16,907 |
15,962 |
+945 |
15,174 |
Newly Discharged Veterans |
26,315 |
26,320 |
-5 |
18,062 |
Railroad Retirement Board |
3,000 |
3,000 |
0 |
3,000 |
Extended Benefits |
2,684 |
2,411 |
+273 |
16,707 |
Federal (TEUC) |
23,334 |
31,184 |
-7,850 |
811,550 |
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 04/24/2004
STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State |
Change |
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State Supplied Comment |
NY |
-14,224 |
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Decrease due to schools returning to session after spring
break. |
NJ |
-4,510 |
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Fewer layoffs in the transportation, warehousing, construction,
trade, service, and manufacturing industries. |
PA |
-2,499 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction, service, transportation,
and transportation equipment industries. |
WI |
-2,178 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing
industries. |
SC |
-2,155 |
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Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry. |
RI |
-1,507 |
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Fewer layoffs in the trade and service industries. |
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State |
Change |
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State Supplied Comment |
CT |
+1,781 |
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Increase due to school closings for spring break. |
NC |
+2,006 |
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Layoffs in the construction and tobacco industries. |
MI |
+2,458 |
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Layoffs in the automobile industry. |
MA |
+5,228 |
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Increase due to school closings for spring break. |
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