| EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION | USDL 02-699 |
| 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) 693-4676 | December 26, 2002 |
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATAIn the week ending Dec. 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 378,000, a decrease of 60,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 438,000. The 4-week moving average was 404,500, an increase of 2,500 from the previous week's revised average of 402,000.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.7 percent for the week ending Dec. 14, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.7 percent.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Dec. 14 was 3,464,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,476,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,417,000, a decrease of 36,500 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,453,500.
UNADJUSTED DATAThe advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 469,365 in the week ending Dec. 21, a decrease of 16,757 from the previous week. There were 529,461 initial claims in the comparable week in 2001.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.8 percent during the week ending Dec. 14, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,627,045, an increase of 88,661 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.9 percent and the volume was 3,733,813.
Extended benefits were available in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington during the week ending Dec. 7 .
53 states reported that 777,230 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending Dec. 7.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,486 in the week ending Dec. 14, a decrease of 746 from the prior week. There were 1,410 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 167 from the preceding week.
There were 20,931 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Dec. 7, a decrease of 2,275 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 19,913, a decrease of 829 from the prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Dec. 7 were in Puerto Rico (5.7 percent), Alaska (5.6), Oregon (4.4), Washington (4.3), Pennsylvania (4.1), Arkansas (3.7), California (3.7), Idaho (3.6), North Carolina (3.5), Massachusetts (3.3), and Wisconsin (3.3).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Dec. 14 were in North Carolina (+14,079), Michigan (+4,582), Texas (+3,173), New Jersey (+1,847), and Kentucky (+1,113), while the largest decreases were in Georgia (-9,495), Pennsylvania (-8,823), New York (-8,424), California (-6,826), and South Carolina (-5,928).
| Advance | Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING | Dec. 21 | Dec 14 | Change | Dec. 7 | Year |
| Initial Claims (SA) | 378,000 | 438,000 | -60,000 | 444,000 | 413,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Claims (NSA) | 469,365 | 486,122 | -16,757 | 547,430 | 529,461 |
| 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) | 404,500 | 402,000 | +2,500 | 388,000 | 415,250 |
| Advance | Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING | Dec. 14 | Dec. 7 | Change | Nov. 30 | Year |
| Ins. Unemployment (SA) | 3,464,000 | 3,476,000 | -12,000 | 3,269,000 | 3,587,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ins. Unemployment (NSA) | 3,627,045 | 3,538,384 | +88,661 | 3,625,247 | 3,733,813 |
| 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) | 3,417,000 | 3,453,500 | -36,500 | 3,475,250 | 3,599,250 |
| Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 | 2.7% | 2.7% | 0.0 | 2.6% | 2.8% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 | 2.8% | 2.8% | 0.0 | 2.8% | 2.9% |
| Prior1 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING | Dec. 14 |
Dec. 7 |
Change |
Year |
| Federal Employees | 1,486 | 2,232 | -746 | 1,484 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newly Discharged Veterans | 1,410 | 1,577 | -167 | 1,151 |
| Prior1 |
||||
| WEEK ENDING | Dec. 7 |
Nov. 30 |
Change |
Year |
| Federal Employees | 20,931 | 23,206 | -2,275 | 19,132 |
| Newly Discharged Veterans | 19,913 | 20,742 | -829 | 16,990 |
| Railroad Retirement Board | 6,000 | 6,000 | 0 | 5,000 |
| Extended Benefits | 15,941 | 14,879 | +1,062 | 1 |
| Federal (TEUC) | 777,230 | 787,977 | -10,747 | 0 |
UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 12/14/2002
| State | Change | State Supplied Comment | |
| GA | -9,495 | Fewer layoffs in the textile and carpets/rugs industries. | |
| PA | -8,823 | Fewer layoffs in the food, tobacco, furniture, electrical equipment, transportation, and service industries. | |
| NY | -8,424 | No comment. | |
| CA | -6,826 | Fewer layoffs in the construction industry, and agriculture. | |
| SC | -5,928 | Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry. | |
| WI | -5,351 | Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries, and manufacturing. | |
| OH | -4,136 | No comment. | |
| WA | -4,125 | No comment. | |
| AL | -3,689 | Fewer layoffs in the textile, service, and manufacturing industries. | |
| AR | -3,682 | No comment. | |
| IL | -3,610 | Fewer layoffs in the construction, service, and manufacturing industries. | |
| TN | -3,211 | Fewer layoffs in the industrial machinery, furniture, lumber/wood, primary metals, and manufacturing industries. | |
| MS | -2,855 | Fewer layoffs in the lumber/wood and rubber/plastics industries. | |
| MN | -2,829 | Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and manufacturing industries. | |
| VA | -2,241 | Fewer layoffs in the food and furniture industries. | |
| MO | -2,072 | Fewer layoffs in the construction industry. | |
| MA | -1,396 | No comment. | |
| IA | -1,354 | No comment. | |
| FL | -1,041 | Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries. |
| KY | +1,113 | No comment. | |
| NJ | +1,847 | Layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries. | |
| TX | +3,173 | Layoffs in the information, service, and manufacturing industries. | |
| MI | +4,582 | No comment. | |
| NC | +14,079 | Layoffs in the construction, trade, and furniture industries. |