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News Release

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION

USDL 09-1562-NAT

Program Contact:

TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS

Scott Gibbons (202) 693-3008

RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL

Tony Sznoluch (202) 693-3176

8:30 A.M. (EST), THURSDAY

Media Contact :

December 24, 2009

(202) 693-4676

 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA

In the week ending Dec. 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 452,000, a decrease of 28,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 480,000. The 4-week moving average was 465,250, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average of 468,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.9 percent for the week ending Dec. 12, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.9 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Dec. 12 was 5,076,000, a decrease of 127,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 5,203,000. The 4-week moving average was 5,233,000, a decrease of 90,000 from the preceding week's revised average of 5,323,000.

The fiscal year-to-date average for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment for all programs is 5.673 million.  

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 561,902 in the week ending Dec. 19, an increase of 6,492 from the previous week. There were 719,615 initial claims in the comparable week in 2008.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.1 percent during the week ending Dec. 12, an increase of 0.2 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 5,385,774, an increase of 193,030 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.4 percent and the volume was 4,594,820.

Extended benefits were available in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin during the week ending Dec. 5.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 2,117 in the week ending Dec. 12, an increase of 26 from the prior week. There were 2,150 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 261 from the preceding week.

There were 26,320 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Dec. 5, an increase of 142 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 36,224, a decrease of 784 from the prior week.

States reported 4,368,107 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending Dec. 5, an increase of 141,807 from the prior week. There were 1,482,317 claimants in the comparable week in 2008. EUC weekly claims include first, second, and third tier activity.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Dec. 5 were in Puerto Rico (6.4 percent), Oregon (5.9), Pennsylvania (5.6), Wisconsin (5.6), Alaska (5.4), Washington (5.2), Idaho (5.1), Nevada (5.1), California (4.9), Michigan (4.9), and North Carolina (4.9).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Dec. 12 were in Puerto Rico (+1,260), Louisiana (+1,123), Nebraska (+941), Maine (+728), and the District of Columbia (+696), while the largest decreases were in North Carolina (-14,374), Pennsylvania (-14,302), New York (-13,432), Georgia (-11,142), and Wisconsin (-10,650).


UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS


 

Advance

 

 

 

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Dec. 19

Dec. 12

Change

Dec. 5

Year


Initial Claims (SA)

452,000

480,000

-28,000

475,000

564,000

Initial Claims (NSA)

561,902

555,410

+6,492

665,682

719,615

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

465,250

468,000

-2,750

473,250

546,250

 

Advance

 

 

 

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Dec. 12

Dec. 5

Change

Nov. 28

Year


Ins. Unemployment (SA)

5,076,000

5,203,000

-127,000

5,183,000

4,331,000

Ins. Unemployment (NSA)

5,385,774

5,192,744

+193,030

5,400,752

4,594,820

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

5,233,000

5,323,000

-90,000

5,425,500

4,286,250


Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2

3.9%

3.9%

0.0

3.9%

3.2%

Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2

4.1%

3.9%

+0.2

4.1%

3.4%


INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)


 

 

 

 

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Dec. 12

Dec. 5

Change

Year


Federal Employees

2,117

2,091

+26

2,199

Newly Discharged Veterans

2,150

2,411

-261

2,056


PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)


 

 

 

 

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Dec. 5

Nov. 28

Change

Year


Federal Employees

26,320

26,178

+142

18,655

Newly Discharged Veterans

36,224

37,008

-784

25,047

Railroad Retirement Board

10,000

10,000

0

4,000

Extended Benefits

363,956

508,695

-144,739

3,361

EUC 20083

4,368,107

4,226,300

+141,807

1,482,317


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 131,823,421 as denominator.
3 - EUC weekly claims include first, second, and third tier activity.

UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 12/12/2009 


STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 


State

Change

 

State Supplied Comment

NC

-14,374

 

Fewer layoffs in the textile, construction, service, rubber/plastics, electrical equipment, and electronic equipment industries.

PA

-14,302

 

Fewer layoffs in the construction, service, transportation, and transportation equipment industries.

NY

-13,432

 

Fewer layoffs in the construction, service, and transportation industries.

GA

-11,142

 

Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries.

WI

-10,650

 

Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and manufacturing industries.

CA

-10,515

 

Decrease due to administrative factors, as well as fewer layoffs in the service industry, and agriculture.

FL

-5,678

 

Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries, and agriculture.

TX

-4,588

 

Fewer layoffs in the information, service, and manufacturing industries.

MI

-4,407

 

Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry.

WA

-3,134

 

No comment.

MN

-2,766

 

No comment.

TN

-2,734

 

Fewer layoffs in the construction, service, and manufacturing industries.

AL

-2,727

 

Fewer layoffs in the apparel, furniture, and primary metals industries.

VA

-2,579

 

No comment.

SC

-2,242

 

Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.

AR

-1,691

 

No comment.

OR

-1,286

 

No comment.

OH

-1,271

 

No comment.

MO

-1,165

 

Fewer layoffs in the transportation, warehousing, and manufacturing industries.


STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 


State

Change

 

State Supplied Comment

LA

+1,123

 

No comment.

PR

+1,260

 

No comment.