EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 02-622
   
   
Program Contact: TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS
Thomas Stengle (202) 693-2991 RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL
Media Contact : 8:30 A.M. (EDT), THURSDAY
(202) 693-3900 November 7, 2002
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending Nov. 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 390,000, a decrease of 20,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 410,000. The 4-week moving average was 402,000, an increase of  250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 401,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.8 percent for the week ending Oct. 26, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.8 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Oct. 26 was 3,583,000, an increase of 4,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,579,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,598,500, a decrease of 7,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,605,750.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 390,952 in the week ending Nov. 2, an increase of 14,384 from the previous week. There were 443,976 initial claims in the comparable week in 2001.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.4 percent during the week ending Oct. 26, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,081,601, an increase of 60,596 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.4 percent and the volume was 3,092,615.  

Extended benefits were available in North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington during the week ending Oct. 19.

53 states reported that 806,631 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending Oct. 19.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,507 in the week ending Oct. 26, an increase of 346 from the prior week. There were 1,519 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 136 from the preceding week.

There were 19,574 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Oct. 19, an increase of 828 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 18,427, an increase of 495 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Oct. 19 were in Puerto Rico (5.3 percent), Alaska (4.3), Oregon (3.6), the Virgin Islands (3.5), Washington (3.4), California (3.2), Pennsylvania (3.2), New Jersey (3.0), Arkansas (2.9), and Massachusetts (2.9).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Oct. 26 were in Wisconsin (+3,272), Michigan (+3,103), New York (+2,786), North Carolina (+2,751), and Illinois (+2,716), while the largest decreases were in Tennessee (-2,089), Florida (-1,888), Iowa (-858), Kentucky (-786), and Mississippi (-665).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Nov. 2  Oct. 26 Change Oct. 19  Year
Initial Claims (SA) 390,000 410,000 -20,000 394,000 434,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 390,952 376,568 +14,384 349,981 443,976
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 402,000 401,750 +250 405,250 464,250
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Oct. 26 Oct. 19  Change Oct. 12 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,583,000 3,579,000 +4,000 3,541,000 3,579,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 3,081,601 3,021,005 +60,596 2,967,513 3,092,615
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,598,500 3,605,750 -7,250 3,623,250 3,541,500
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.8% 2.8% 0.0 2.8% 2.8%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 2.4% 2.4% 0.0 2.3% 2.4%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING

Oct. 26 

Oct. 19 

Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,507 1,161 +346 1,459
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,519 1,383 +136 1,241
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING

Oct. 19  

Oct. 12 

Change
Year
Federal Employees 19,574 18,746 +828 17,663
Newly Discharged Veterans 18,427 17,932 +495 15,434
Railroad Retirement Board 3,000 3,000 0 4,000
Extended Benefits 11,233 11,470 -237 4
Federal (TEUC) 806,631 812,401 -5,770 0
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 127,388,117 as denominator.

UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 10/26/2002

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State Change State Supplied Comment
TN -2,089 Fewer layoffs in the trade and electronic equipment industries.
FL -1,888 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries, and agriculture. 
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
VA +1,019 Layoffs in the textile, apparel, and furniture industries.
OK +1,235 No comment.
DE +1,254 No comment.
OH +1,382 No comment.
GA +1,785 No comment.
NJ +2,295 Layoffs in the construction, trade, service, finance, insurance, real estate, and manufacturing industries. 
IL +2,716 Layoffs in the construction, service, and manufacturing industries.
NC +2,751 Layoffs in the construction industry.
NY +2,786 No comment.
MI +3,103 Layoffs in the automobile, industrial machinery, and computer equipment industries.
WI +3,272 Layoffs in the construction, trade, service, transportation, communications, public utilities, and manufacturing industries.


UI Claims Series 1967 to current

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