EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 02-670
   
   
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 December 5, 2002
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending Nov. 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 355,000, a decrease of 13,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 368,000. The 4-week moving average was 376,500, a decrease of  10,500 from the previous week's revised average of 387,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.7 percent for the week ending Nov. 23, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's revised rate of 2.8 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Nov. 23  was 3,486,000, a decrease of 123,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,609,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,575,500, a decrease of 17,750 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,593,250.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 382,818 in the week ending Nov. 30, a decrease of 53,636 from the previous week. There were 605,902 initial claims in the comparable week in 2001.

Extended benefits were available in Alaska, North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington during the week ending Nov. 16 .

53 states reported that 783,768 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending Nov. 16.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 2,112 in the week ending Nov. 23, an increase of 532 from the prior week. There were 1,433 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 209 from the preceding week.

There were 20,827 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Nov. 16, an increase of 2,619 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 19,451, an increase of 669 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Nov. 16 were in Alaska (5.4 percent), Puerto Rico (5.0), Oregon (4.1), Washington (4.1), the Virgin Islands (3.7), California (3.6), Pennsylvania (3.5), Arkansas (3.2), New Jersey (3.2), and Massachusetts (3.1).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Nov. 23 were in California (+17,526), Michigan (+10,226), Kentucky (+4,444), Illinois (+3,793), and Wisconsin (+2,166), while the largest decreases were in Alabama (-1,075), North Dakota (-380), Hawaii (-78), Idaho (-49), and New Hampshire (-2).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Nov. 30 Nov. 23 Change Nov. 16  Year
Initial Claims (SA) 355,000 368,000 -13,000 382,000 442,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 382,818 436,454 -53,636 372,863 605,902
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 376,500 387,000 -10,500 397,250 439,250
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Nov. 23 Nov. 16  Change Nov. 9 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,486,000 3,609,000 -123,000 3,563,000 3,582,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 3,130,850 3,262,919 -132,069 3,100,218 3,722,010
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,575,500 3,593,250 -17,750 3,586,000 3,603,250
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.7% 2.8% -0.1 2.8% 2.8%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 2.5% 2.6% -0.1 2.4% 2.9%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING

Nov. 23 

Nov. 16 

Change
Year
Federal Employees 2,112 1,580 +532 1,408
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,433 1,224 +209 858
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING

Nov. 16 

Nov. 9 

Change
Year
Federal Employees 20,827 18,208 +2,619 17,905
Newly Discharged Veterans 19,451 18,782 +669 15,009
Railroad Retirement Board 4,000 4,000 0 4,000
Extended Benefits 12,722 11,717 +1,005 7
Federal (TEUC) 783,768 767,691 +16,077 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 11/23/2002

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State Change State Supplied Comment
AL -1,075 Fewer layoffs in the construction, electrical equipment, and manufacturing industries.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
IN +1,084 Layoffs in the service and manufacturing industries.
TN +1,243 Layoffs in the lumber/wood, transportation equipment, electronic equipment, paper, and trade industries.
MN +1,306 Layoffs in the construction, service, and manufacturing industries.
MA +1,409 No comment.
WA +1,510 No comment.
NY +1,801 No comment.
GA +1,871 Layoffs in the mobile homes and manufacturing industries.
NC +1,878 Layoffs in the construction industry.
PA +2,001 Layoffs in the transportation equipment, public administration, petroleum, chemical, and tobacco industries.
NJ +2,153 Return to a five day workweek.
WI +2,166 Layoffs in the construction, service, and manufacturing industries.
IL +3,793 Layoffs in the construction, service, and manufacturing industries.
KY +4,444 No comment.
MI +10,226 No comment.
CA +17,526 Layoffs in the service, public administration, and manufacturing industries, and agriculture.

State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current

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