News Release
  
U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 05-968-NAT
   
   
Program Contact: TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS
Subri Raman (202) 693-3058 RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL
Tony Sznoluch (202) 693-3176 8:30 A.M. (EDT), THURSDAY
Media Contact : June 2, 2005
(202) 693-4676  
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

          SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA

In the week ending May 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 350,000, an increase of 25,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 325,000. The 4-week moving average was 334,500, an increase of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average of 331,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.0 percent for the week ending May 21, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.0 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending May 21 was 2,602,000, an increase of 32,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 2,570,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,591,000, an increase of 4,750 from the preceding week's revised average of 2,586,250.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 303,031 in the week ending May 28, an increase of 25,534 from the previous week. There were 304,067 initial claims in the comparable week in 2004.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.9 percent during the week ending May 21, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 2,370,458, a decrease of 27,707 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.1 percent and the volume was 2,702,892.

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Extended benefits were available in Alaska during the week ending May 14.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,037 in the week ending May 21, an increase of 161 from the prior week. There were 1,902 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 61 from the preceding week.

There were 12,674 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending May 14, an increase of 144 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 27,217, an increase of 458 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending May 14 were in Puerto Rico (4.6 percent), Alaska (4.4), Oregon (2.9), Michigan (2.8), New Jersey (2.7), Pennsylvania (2.7), California (2.5), Arkansas (2.3), Massachusetts (2.3), and Wisconsin (2.3).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending May 21 were in Missouri (+2,031), Texas (+1,712), Massachusetts (+1,528), Arkansas (+1,009), and Arizona (+572), while the largest decreases were in Michigan (-2,075), Ohio (-1,306), North Carolina (-1,157), New York (-1,127), and Tennessee (-774).

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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING May 28 May 21 Change May 14 Year
Initial Claims (SA) 350,000 325,000 +25,000 322,000 345,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 303,031 277,497 +25,534 275,304 304,067
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 334,500 331,000 +3,500 330,000 343,500
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING May 21 May 14 Change May 7 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 2,602,000 2,570,000 +32,000 2,596,000 2,983,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 2,370,458 2,398,165 -27,707 2,443,188 2,702,892
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 2,591,000 2,586,250 +4,750 2,581,500 2,962,250
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.0% 2.0% 0.0 2.0% 2.4%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 1.9% 1.9% 0.0 1.9% 2.1%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
May 21
May 14
Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,037 876 +161 1,168
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,902 1,841 +61 1,923
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
May 14
May 7
Change
Year
Federal Employees 12,674 12,530 +144 14,927
Newly Discharged Veterans 27,217 26,759 +458 25,336
Railroad Retirement Board 2,000 2,000 0 2,000
Extended Benefits 2,997 2,051 +946 2,237
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 127,095,859 as denominator.
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UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 05/21/2005 

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
MI -2,075 Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry.
OH -1,306 No comment.
NC -1,157 Fewer layoffs in the construction, textile, apparel, furniture, and fabricated metals industries.
NY -1,127 No comment.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
AR +1,009 No comment.
MA +1,528 No comment.
TX +1,712 Layoffs in the trade, service, and manufacturing industries.
MO +2,031 Layoffs in the trade and transportation industries.

State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current

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