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EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION

USDL 11-0721-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. (EDT), THURSDAY

Media Contact :

May 19, 2011

(202) 693-4676

 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA

In the week ending May 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 409,000, a decrease of 29,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 438,000. The 4-week moving average was 439,000, an increase of 1,250 from the previous week's revised average of 437,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent for the week ending May 7, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.0 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending May 7 was 3,711,000, a decrease of 81,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,792,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,728,250, an increase of 750 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,727,500.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 357,872 in the week ending May 14, a decrease of 39,865 from the previous week. There were 414,572 initial claims in the comparable week in 2010.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.8 percent during the week ending May 7, a decrease of 0.2 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,562,660, a decrease of 160,611 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.5 percent and the volume was 4,471,786.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending April 30 was 7,936,548, a decrease of 47,124 from the previous week.

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 Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia, during the week ending April 30.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,449 in the week ending May 7, a decrease of 168 from the prior week. There were 2,470 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 190 from the preceding week.

There were 26,495 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending April 30, a decrease of 2,971 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 37,186, an increase of 430 from the prior week.

States reported 3,468,979 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending April 30, an increase of 53,398 from the prior week. There were 5,095,265 claimants in the comparable week in 2010. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending April 30 were in Alaska (5.8 percent), Puerto Rico (5.6), Oregon (4.3), Pennsylvania (4.1), California (4.0), New Jersey (3.9), Wisconsin (3.9), Nevada (3.7), Connecticut (3.7), Idaho (3.6), and Rhode Island (3.6).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending May 7 were in Alabama (+5,767), California (+4,015), Puerto Rico (+3,124), Michigan (+3,122), and Mississippi (+1,666), while the largest decreases were in New York (-23,445), Wisconsin (-3,556), Ohio (-3,014), Connecticut (-2,693), and New Jersey (-1,599).


UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS


WEEK ENDING

Advance May 14

May 7

Change

April 30

Prior Year1


Initial Claims (SA)

409,000

438,000

-29,000

478,000

477,000

Initial Claims (NSA)

357,872

397,737

-39,865

415,974

414,572

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

439,000

437,750

+1,250

432,250

462,250

WEEK ENDING

Advance May 7

April 30

Change

April 23

Prior Year1


Ins. Unemployment (SA)

3,711,000

3,792,000

-81,000

3,751,000

4,648,000

Ins. Unemployment (NSA)

3,562,660

3,732,271

-160,611

3,769,810

4,471,786

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

3,728,250

3,727,500

+750

3,705,250

4,659,250


Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2

3.0%

3.0%

0.0

3.0%

3.6%

Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2

2.8%

3.0%

-0.2

3.0%

3.5%


INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

WEEK ENDING

May 7

April 30

Change

 

Prior Year1

Federal Employees

1,449

1,617

-168

 

1,339

Newly Discharged Veterans

2,470

2,280

190

 

2,532


PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN ALL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

WEEK ENDING

April 30

April 23

Change

 

Prior Year1

Regular State

3,711,863

3,758,293

-46,430

 

4,530,269

Federal Employees (UCFE)

26,495

29,466

-2,971

 

17,388

Newly Discharged Veterans (UCX)

37,186

36,756

430

 

35,046

EUC 20083

3,468,979

3,415,581

53,398

 

5,095,265

Extended Benefits4

640,042

689,009

-48,967

 

291,280

State Additional Benefits 5

6,814

6,541

273

 

9,853

STC / Workshare 6

45,169

48,026

-2,857

 

77,811

TOTAL

7,936,548

7,983,672

-47,124

 

10,056,912


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 125,572,661 as denominator.
3 - EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity. Tier-specific EUC data can be found here: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/docs/persons.xls
4 - Information on the EB program can be found here: http://www.ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/extenben.asp
5 - Some states maintain additional benefit programs for those claimants who exhaust regular, extended and emergency benefits. Information on states that participate and the extent of benefits can be found starting on page 4-5 of this link: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2010/special.pdf
6 - Information on STC/Worksharing can be found starting on page 4-9 of the following link: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2010/special.pdf

UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 05/07/2011 


STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 


State

Change

 

State Supplied Comment

NY

-23,445

 

Fewer layoffs in the service and construction industries.

WI

-3,556

 

No comment.

OH

-3,014

 

No comment.

CT

-2,693

 

No comment.

NJ

-1,599

 

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

IN

-1,199

 

No comment.

IL

-1,189

 

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


STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 


State

Change

 

State Supplied Comment

NC

+1,192

 

Layoffs in the construction, service, leather goods, and rubber/ plastics industries.

WA

+1,198

 

Layoffs in the manufacturing and construction industries.

MS

+1,666

 

Layoffs in the service industry.

MI

+3,122

 

Layoffs in the automobile and construction industries.

PR

+3,124

 

No comment.

CA

+4,015

 

Layoffs in the service industry.

AL

+5,767

 

The figure reflected impact of storms and tornadoes of the previous week. Also, layoffs in the textile, apparel, and service industries.

State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current


This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-693-4676. TDD Message Phone: 1-800-326-2577.  News releases from the U.S. Department of Labor are accessible on the Internet at: http://www.dol.gov/ and  http://www.ows.doleta.gov/