EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 02-665
   
   
Program Contact: TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS
Thomas Stengle (202) 693-2991 RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL
Media Contact : 8:30 A.M. (EDT), WEDNESDAY
(202) 693-3900 November 27, 2002
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending Nov. 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 364,000, a decrease of 17,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 381,000. The 4-week moving average was 385,750, a decrease of  11,250 from the previous week's revised average of 397,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent for the week ending Nov. 16, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.8 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Nov. 16  was 3,650,000, an increase of 91,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,559,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,602,500, an increase of 17,500 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,585,000.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 431,641 in the week ending Nov. 23, an increase of 58,985 from the previous week. There were 438,820 initial claims in the comparable week in 2001.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent during the week ending Nov. 16, an increase of 0.2 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,299,445, an increase of 202,840 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.4 percent and the volume was 3,142,017.  

Extended benefits were available in North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington during the week ending Nov. 9.

53 states reported that 767,691 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending Nov. 9.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,574 in the week ending Nov. 16, a decrease of 342 from the prior week. There were 1,221 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 188 from the preceding week.

There were 18,226 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Nov. 9, a decrease of 1,450 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 18,755, a decrease of 508 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Nov. 9 were in Puerto Rico (5.0 percent), Alaska (4.8), Oregon (3.9), Washington (3.9), Pennsylvania (3.4), California (3.1), Arkansas (3.0), New Jersey (3.0), Massachusetts (2.9), and Connecticut (2.8).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Nov. 16 were in Alabama (+1,841), North Dakota (+700), Montana (+274), Oregon (+181), and Delaware (+133), while the largest decreases were in California (-13,291), North Carolina (-5,912), Michigan (-3,882), Tennessee (-3,048), and Missouri (-2,786).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Nov. 23  Nov. 16 Change Nov. 9  Year
Initial Claims (SA) 364,000 381,000 -17,000 401,000 461,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 431,641 372,656 +58,985 427,138 438,820
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 385,750 397,000 -11,250 400,250 437,250
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Nov. 16 Nov. 9  Change Nov. 2 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,650,000 3,559,000 +91,000 3,644,000 3,480,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 3,299,445 3,096,605 +202,840 3,137,163 3,142,017
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,602,500 3,585,000 +17,500 3,580,500 3,602,500
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.9% 2.8% +0.1 2.9% 2.7%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 2.6% 2.4% +0.2 2.5% 2.4%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING

Nov. 16 

Nov. 9 

Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,574 1,916 -342 1,330
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,221 1,409 -188 1,109
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING

Nov. 9 

Nov. 2 

Change
Year
Federal Employees 18,226 19,676 -1,450 16,375
Newly Discharged Veterans 18,755 19,263 -508 15,750
Railroad Retirement Board 4,000 4,000 0 4,000
Extended Benefits 11,717 11,758 -41 0
Federal (TEUC) 767,691 789,139 -21,448 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 11/16/2002

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State Change State Supplied Comment
CA -13,291 Fewer layoffs in the trade and service industries.
NC -5,912 Fewer layoffs in the construction and textile industries.
MI -3,882 Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry. 
TN -3,048 Fewer layoffs in the industrial machinery, chemical, trade, apparel, and furniture industries.
MO -2,786 Fewer layoffs in the construction industry.
GA -2,168 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
FL -1,926 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries, and agriculture.
NJ -1,909 Fewer layoffs in the trade and service industries.
MA -1,861 No comment.
WA -1,833 No comment.
SC -1,554 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
NY -1,549 No comment.
KY -1,548 Fewer layoffs in the service industry.
OH -1,509 No comment.
MS -1,134 Fewer layoffs in the lumber/wood and apparel industries.
TX -1,000 Fewer layoffs in the information, service, and manufacturing industries.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
AL +1,841 Layoffs in the electrical equipment, construction, and manufacturing industries.

UI Claims Series 1967 to current

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