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 08-1243-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 : | September 4, 2008 |
| (202) 693-4676 | |
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending Aug. 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial
claims was 444,000, an increase of 15,000 from the previous week's revised
figure of 429,000. The 4-week moving average was 438,000, a decrease of 3,250
from the previous week's revised average of 441,250.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending Aug. 23, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.6 percent.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Aug. 23 was 3,435,000, an increase of 6,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,429,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,400,250, an increase of 33,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,367,000.
The fiscal year-to-date average for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment for all programs is 3.006 million.
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 353,501 in the week ending Aug. 30, an increase of 8,374 from the previous week. There were 257,454 initial claims in the comparable week in 2007.UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.3 percent during the
week ending Aug. 23, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number
for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,125,951, a decrease
of 49,055 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 1.8 percent and
the volume was 2,353,210.
Extended benefits were available in Alaska and Rhode Island during the week ending Aug. 16.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,020 in the week ending Aug. 23, a decrease of 41 from the prior week. There were 1,737 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 32 from the preceding week.
There were 14,263 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Aug. 16, an increase of 639 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 21,621, an increase of 238 from the prior week.
States reported 1,394,749 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending Aug. 16, a decrease of 384,050 from the prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Aug. 16 were in Puerto Rico (5.3 percent), Michigan (3.6), New Jersey (3.5), Rhode Island (3.4), California (3.3), Pennsylvania (3.3), Oregon (3.2), Connecticut (3.1), Nevada (3.1), and South Carolina (3.1).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Aug. 23 were in Texas (+2,072), Wisconsin (+1,883), New York (+1,488), Alabama (+1,168), and Michigan (+874), while the largest decreases were in Georgia (-2,229), Pennsylvania (-1,632), North Carolina (-1,551), Iowa (-1,485), and Missouri
(-1,230).
| Advance | Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING | Aug. 30 | Aug. 23 | Change | Aug. 16 | Year |
| Initial Claims (SA) | 444,000 | 429,000 | +15,000 | 435,000 | 320,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Claims (NSA) | 353,501 | 345,127 | +8,374 | 343,169 | 257,454 |
| 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) | 438,000 | 441,250 | -3,250 | 446,250 | 325,250 |
| Advance | Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING | Aug. 23 | Aug. 16 | Change | Aug. 9 | Year |
| Ins. Unemployment (SA) | 3,435,000 | 3,429,000 | +6,000 | 3,359,000 | 2,589,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ins. Unemployment (NSA) | 3,125,951 | 3,175,006 | -49,055 | 3,160,610 | 2,353,210 |
| 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) | 3,400,250 | 3,367,000 | +33,250 | 3,329,250 | 2,572,250 |
| Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 | 2.6% | 2.6% | 0.0 | 2.5% | 2.0% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ins. Unemployment Rate
(NSA)2 |
2.3% | 2.4% | -0.1 | 2.4% | 1.8% |
|
Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING |
Aug. 23 |
Aug. 16 |
Change |
Year |
| Federal Employees | 1,020 | 1,061 | -41 | 1,324 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newly Discharged Veterans | 1,737 | 1,705 | +32 | 1,892 |
|
Prior1 | ||||
| WEEK ENDING |
Aug. 16 |
Aug. 9 |
Change |
Year |
| Federal Employees | 14,263 | 13,624 | +639 | 14,443 |
| Newly Discharged Veterans | 21,621 | 21,383 | +238 | 21,751 |
| Railroad Retirement Board | 3,000 | 3,000 | 0 | 2,000 |
| Extended Benefits | 1,413 | 1,671 | -258 | 0 |
| EUC 2008 | 1,394,749 | 1,010,699 | +384,050 | 0 |
UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 08/23/2008
| State | Change | State Supplied Comment | |
| GA | -2,229 | Fewer layoffs in the textile industry. | |
| PA | -1,632 | Fewer layoffs in the utilities, leather goods, primary metals, and industrial machinery industries. | |
| NC | -1,551 | Fewer layoffs in the transportation equipment, furniture, primary metals, and rubber/plastics industries. | |
| IA | -1,485 | No comment. | |
| MO | -1,230 | Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry. |
| State | Change | State Supplied Comment | |
| AL | +1,168 | Layoffs in the rubber/plastics industry. | |
| NY | +1,488 | Layoffs in the service, transportation, and manufacturing industries. | |
| WI | +1,883 | Layoffs in the construction, transportation, warehousing, and manufacturing industries. | |
| TX | +2,072 | Layoffs in the service, information, and manufacturing industries. |
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request. Voice phone: 202-693-4676. TDD Message Phone: 1-800-326-2577.
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