News Release
  
U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL12-1898-NAT
   
   
Program Contacts: TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS
Scott Gibbons (202) 693-3008 RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL
Tony Sznoluch (202) 693-3176 8:30 A.M. (Eastern), THURSDAY
Media Contact: (202) 693-4676 September 20, 2012
   

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

          SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA

In the week ending September 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 382,000, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 385,000. The 4-week moving average was 377,750, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised average of 375,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending September 8, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending September 8 was 3,272,000, a decrease of 32,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,304,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,309,750, a decrease of 12,000 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,321,750.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 327,797 in the week ending September 15, an increase of 28,068 from the previous week. There were 353,820 initial claims in the comparable week in 2011.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.3 percent during the week ending September 8, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 2,925,518, a decrease of 5,307 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.6 percent and the volume was 3,306,720.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending September 1 was 5,173,597, a decrease of 217,823 from the previous week. There were 6,887,930 persons claiming benefits in all programs in the comparable week in 2011

 

2

Extended Benefits were not available in any states during the week ending September 1.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 962 in the week ending September 8, a decrease of 259 from the prior week. There were 2,715 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 175 from the preceding week.

There were 16,610 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending September 1, a decrease of 823 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 37,093, a decrease of 1,308 from the prior week.

States reported 2,162,532 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending September 1, a decrease of 60,539 from the prior week. There were 2,997,259 persons claiming EUC in the comparable week in 2011. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending September 1 were in Puerto Rico (4.1), New Jersey (3.6), Alaska (3.5), Pennsylvania (3.5), Connecticut (3.3), California (3.1), New York (3.0), Nevada (2.9), Oregon (2.8), and Massachusetts (2.7).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending September 8 were in Louisiana (+6,678), Puerto Rico (+1,679), Mississippi (+1,067), Wisconsin (+988), and Washington (+833), while the largest decreases were in California (-8,163), New York (-3,449), Michigan (-2,115), Pennsylvania
(-1,624), and Iowa (-1,214).

 

3
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
WEEK ENDING Advance September 15 September 8 Change September 1 Prior Year1
Initial Claims (SA) 382,000 385,000 -3,000 367,000 417,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 327,797 299,729 +28,068 309,537 353,820
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 377,750 375,750 +2,000 371,750 414,000
WEEK ENDING Advance September 8 September 1 Change August 25 Prior Year1
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,272,000 3,304,000 -32,000 3,332,000 3,720,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 2,925,518 2,930,825 -5,307 3,085,324 3,306,720
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,309,750 3,321,750 -12,000 3,324,000 3,723,750
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.6% 2.6% 0.0% 2.6% 3.0%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2
 2.3% 2.3% 0.0% 2.4% 2.6%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
WEEK ENDING
September 8
September 1
Change
Prior Year1
Federal Employees 962 1,221 -259 1,561
Newly Discharged Veterans 2,715 2,540 +175 2,492
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN ALL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
WEEK ENDING
September 1
August 25
Change
Prior Year1
Regular State 2,923,959 3,078,000 -154,041 3,283,381
Federal Employees (UCFE) 16,610 17,433 -823 23,522
Newly Discharged Veterans (UCX) 37,093 38,401 -1,308 37,366
EUC 20083 2,162,532 2,223,071 -60,539 2,997,259
Extended Benefits4 2,407 2,597 -190 505,975
State Additional Benefits 5 5,583 5,452 +131 4,160
STC / Workshare 6 25,413 26,466 -1,053 36,267
TOTAL 5,173,597 5,391,420 -217,823 6,887,930
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 127,495,952 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 paid, 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

 

4

UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 09/8/2012

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
CA -8,163 Shortened work week due to holiday.
NY -3,449 Fewer layoffs in the transportation, food service, and retail trade industries.
MI -2,115 No comment.
PA -1,624 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing, transportation, health care and social service, entertainment, lodging and food service, professional, scientific and technology service industries.
IA -1,214 No comment.
NV -1,082 No comment.
TX -1,017 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing and administrative support service industries.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
LA +6,678 Business closures due to Tropical Storm Isaac.
PR +1,679

Office closures due to Tropical Storm Isaac.

MS +1,067 No comment.

State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current

This information is 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.oui.doleta.gov/