EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 02-651
   
   
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 21, 2002
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending Nov. 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 376,000, a decrease of 25,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 401,000. The 4-week moving average was 395,750, a decrease of  4,500 from the previous week's revised average of 400,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.8 percent for the week ending Nov. 9, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.9 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Nov. 9  was 3,582,000, a decrease of 61,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,643,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,590,500, an increase of 10,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,580,250.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 367,732 in the week ending Nov. 16, a decrease of 59,287 from the previous week. There were 420,261 initial claims in the comparable week in 2001.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.4 percent during the week ending Nov. 9, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,116,734, a decrease of 19,797 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.5 percent and the volume was 3,180,526.  

Extended benefits were available in North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington during the week ending Nov. 2.

53 states reported that 789,139 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending Nov. 2.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,907 in the week ending Nov. 9, an increase of 563 from the prior week. There were 1,398 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 10 from the preceding week.

There were 19,678 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Nov. 2, an increase of 1,280 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 19,242, an increase of 552 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Nov. 2 were in Puerto Rico (6.1 percent), Alaska (4.8), the Virgin Islands (4.5), Oregon (3.8), Washington (3.8), California (3.4), Pennsylvania (3.3), Arkansas (3.0), New Jersey (3.0), and Massachusetts (2.9).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Nov. 9 were in California (+7,801), Michigan (+6,274), North Carolina (+5,088), New York (+2,962), and Tennessee (+2,329), while the largest decreases were in Missouri (-3,304), Iowa (-2,054), Nebraska (-1,119), Texas (-1,025), and Kansas (-949).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Nov. 16  Nov. 9 Change Nov. 2  Year
Initial Claims (SA) 376,000 401,000 -25,000 397,000 425,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 367,732 427,019 -59,287 397,399 420,261
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 395,750 400,250 -4,500 403,500 441,000
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Nov. 9 Nov. 2  Change Oct. 26 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,582,000 3,643,000 -61,000 3,557,000 3,656,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 3,116,734 3,136,531 -19,797 3,059,193 3,180,526
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,590,500 3,580,250 +10,250 3,592,250 3,632,250
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.8% 2.9% -0.1 2.8% 2.8%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 2.4% 2.5% -0.1 2.4% 2.5%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING

Nov. 9 

Nov. 2 

Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,907 1,344 +563 1,831
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,398 1,388 +10 1,271
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING

Nov. 2 

Oct. 26 

Change
Year
Federal Employees 19,678 18,398 +1,280 17,778
Newly Discharged Veterans 19,242 18,690 +552 15,640
Railroad Retirement Board 4,000 4,000 0 4,000
Extended Benefits 11,758 11,247 +511 0
Federal (TEUC) 789,139 798,258 -9,119 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 11/09/2002

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State Change State Supplied Comment
MO -3,304 Fewer layoffs in the transportation industry.
IA -2,054 No comment.
NE -1,119 No comment.
TX -1,025 Fewer layoffs in the information and service industries.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
PA +1,048 Layoffs in the petroleum, printing/publishing, chemical, textile, and transportation industries.
GA +1,073 Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
MS +1,147 Layoffs in the textile, lumber/wood, and furniture industries.
MA +1,247 No comment.
OR +1,284 No comment.
FL +1,595 Layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries, and agriculture.
NJ +1,909 Layoffs in the transportation, communications, public utilities, trade, service, finance, insurance, and real estate industries.
OH +2,054 Layoffs in the transportation equipment industry.
WA +2,249 No comment.
TN +2,329 Layoffs in the transportation equipment, electronic equipment, industrial machinery, trade, and rubber/plastics industries.
NY +2,962 No comment.
NC +5,088 Layoffs in the textile and apparel industries.
MI +6,274 No comment.
CA +7,801 Layoffs in the construction and manufacturing industries.  

UI Claims Series 1967 to current
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