News Release |
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U.S. Department of Labor Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. | ||
News Release |
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U.S. Department of Labor Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. | ||
| EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION | USDL 03-736-NAT |
| 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 | November 20, 2003 |
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATAIn the week ending Nov. 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 355,000, a decrease of 15,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 370,000. The 4-week moving average was 367,250, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised average of 376,250.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.8 percent for the week ending Nov. 8, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's revised rate of 2.7 percent.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during
the week ending Nov. 8 was 3,497,000, an increase of 21,000 from the preceding
week's revised level of 3,476,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,496,500,
a decrease of 1,500 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,498,000.
UNADJUSTED DATAThe advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 340,486 in the week ending Nov. 15, a decrease of 56,390 from the previous week. There were 372,829 initial claims in the comparable week in 2002.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.4 percent during the
week ending Nov. 8, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number
for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,011,283, a decrease
of 9,612 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.4 percent and
the volume was 3,100,218.
Extended benefits were available in Alaska, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington during the week ending Nov. 1.
53 states reported that 820,173 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending Nov. 1.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 2,258 in the week ending Nov. 8, an increase of 722 from the prior week. There were 1,912 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 267 from the preceding week.
There were 20,656 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Nov. 1, an increase of 1,922 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 23,196, an increase of 460 from the prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Nov. 1 were in Puerto Rico (5.4 percent), Alaska (5.2), Oregon (3.6), Washington (3.5), California (3.3), Pennsylvania (3.3), New Jersey (2.9), Arkansas (2.8), Massachusetts (2.8), and Michigan (2.8).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Nov. 8 were in California (+8,663), Illinois (+3,640), North Carolina (+3,125), Minnesota (+3,029), and Georgia (+2,769), while the largest decreases were in Iowa (-834), South Carolina (-442), Maine (-338), Virginia (-167), and Michigan
(-119).
| Advance | Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING | Nov. 15 | Nov. 8 | Change | Nov. 1 | Year |
| Initial Claims (SA) | 355,000 | 370,000 | -15,000 | 353,000 | 385,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Claims (NSA) | 340,486 | 396,876 | -56,390 | 345,111 | 372,829 |
| 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) | 367,250 | 376,250 | -9,000 | 381,250 | 399,250 |
| Advance | Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING | Nov. 8 | Nov. 1 | Change | Oct. 25 | Year |
| Ins. Unemployment (SA) | 3,497,000 | 3,476,000 | +21,000 | 3,475,000 | 3,576,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ins. Unemployment (NSA) | 3,011,283 | 3,020,895 | -9,612 | 2,947,201 | 3,100,218 |
| 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) | 3,496,500 | 3,498,000 | -1,500 | 3,535,250 | 3,587,250 |
| Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 | 2.8% | 2.7% | +0.1 | 2.7% | 2.8% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 | 2.4% | 2.4% | 0.0 | 2.3% | 2.4% |
|
Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING |
Nov. 8 |
Nov. 1 |
Change |
Year |
| Federal Employees | 2,258 | 1,536 | +722 | 1,916 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newly Discharged Veterans | 1,912 | 1,645 | +267 | 1,409 |
|
Prior1 | ||||
| WEEK ENDING |
Nov. 1 |
Oct. 25 |
Change |
Year |
| Federal Employees | 20,656 | 18,734 | +1,922 | 19,676 |
| Newly Discharged Veterans | 23,196 | 22,736 | +460 | 19,263 |
| Railroad Retirement Board | 3,000 | 3,000 | 0 | 4,000 |
| Extended Benefits | 32,274 | 32,594 | -320 | 11,758 |
| Federal (TEUC) | 820,173 | 816,199 | +3,974 | 798,258 |
UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 11/08/2003
| State | Change | State Supplied Comment | |
| None |
| ID | +1,049 | No comment. | |
| TX | +1,375 | Layoffs in the construction, service, and transportation industries. | |
| TN | +1,452 | Layoffs in the engineering, accounting, primary metals, electronic equipment, and service industries, and agriculture. | |
| MA | +1,481 | No comment. | |
| OR | +1,580 | No comment. | |
| WI | +1,621 | Layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries. | |
| MO | +1,624 | Layoffs in the construction, service, transportation, communications, and public utilities industries. | |
| PA | +1,707 | Layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries. | |
| NJ | +2,203 | Layoffs in the construction, trade, service, transportation, warehousing, and manufacturing industries. | |
| WA | +2,295 | No comment. | |
| NY | +2,753 | No comment. | |
| GA | +2,769 | No comment. | |
| MN | +3,029 | Layoffs in the construction industry. | |
| NC | +3,125 | Layoffs in the construction, electronic and electrical equipment (except computer equipment), textile, and apparel industries. | |
| IL | +3,640 | Layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries. | |
| CA | +8,663 | Layoffs in the construction and service industries, and agriculture. |