EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 03-43
   
   
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 February 6, 2003
 

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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending Feb. 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 391,000, a decrease of 11,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 402,000. The 4-week moving average was 384,750, a decrease of 500 from the previous week's revised average of 385,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending Jan. 25, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.6 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Jan. 25 was 3,353,000, an increase of 58,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,295,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,327,000, a decrease of 22,250 from the preceding week's unrevised average of 3,349,250.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 444,173 in the week ending Feb. 1, an increase of 8,388 from the previous week. There were 445,552 initial claims in the comparable week in 2002.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.3 percent during the week ending Jan. 25, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 4,167,445, an increase of 101,601 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.3 percent and the volume was 4,262,481.

Extended benefits were available in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington during the week ending Jan. 18.

53 states reported that 722,376 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending Jan. 18.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,320 in the week ending Jan. 25, a decrease of 571 from the prior week. There were 1,277 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 372 from the preceding week.

There were 21,202 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Jan. 18, a decrease of 2,760 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 20,593, a decrease of 681 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Jan. 18 were in Alaska (7.2 percent), Oregon (5.1), Puerto Rico (5.1), Pennsylvania (4.9), Idaho (4.8), Washington (4.7), Wisconsin (4.5), Michigan (4.3), Massachusetts (4.1), and Montana (4.0).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Jan. 25 were in Wisconsin (+1,274), and Montana (+572), while the largest decreases were in North Carolina (-13,267), Michigan (-11,028), California (-10,996), Georgia (-10,908), and Ohio (-5,425).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Feb. 1  Jan. 25 Change Jan. 18  Year
Initial Claims (SA) 391,000 402,000 -11,000 383,000 389,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 444,173 435,785 +8,388 542,572 445,552
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 384,750 385,250 -500 387,000 401,250
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING  Jan. 25 Jan. 18  Change Jan. 11 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,353,000 3,295,000 +58,000 3,339,000 3,410,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 4,167,445 4,065,844 +101,601 4,123,623 4,262,481
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,327,000 3,349,250 -22,250 3,377,500 3,478,500
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.6% 2.6% 0.0 2.6% 2.7%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 3.3% 3.2% +0.1 3.2% 3.3%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
Jan. 25 
Jan. 18 
Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,320 1,891 -571 1,159
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,277 1,649 -372 1,035
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
Jan. 18
Jan. 11
Change
Year
Federal Employees 21,202 23,962 -2,760 19,444
Newly Discharged Veterans 20,593 21,274 -681 17,033
Railroad Retirement Board 7,000 7,000 0 8,000
Extended Benefits 17,379 18,506 -1,127 28,148
Federal (TEUC) 722,376 713,808 +8,568 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 126,949,730 as denominator.

UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 01/25/2003 

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
NC -13,267 No comment.
MI -11,028 Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry.
CA -10,996 Fewer layoffs in the service and manufacturing industries.
GA -10,908 Fewer layoffs in the trade industry.
OH -5,425 No comment.
NY -5,290 No comment.
TX -4,355 Fewer layoffs in the trade, transportation, and manufacturing industries.
SC -3,707 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
NJ -3,373 Fewer layoffs in the finance, insurance, real estate, transportation, communications, public utilities, trade, and manufacturing industries.
IL -3,300 Fewer layoffs in the construction, service, and manufacturing industries.
FL -2,715 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries, and agriculture.
CT -2,640 No comment.
PA -2,609 Fewer layoffs in the fabricated metals, electrical equipment, transportation, trade, and service industries.
MO -2,503 Fewer layoffs in the apparel, trade, and service industries.
TN -2,436 Fewer layoffs in the lumber/wood, electronic equipment, industrial machinery, trade, and rubber/plastics industries.
VA -2,133 Fewer layoffs in the furniture industry.
IN -2,049 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
OR -1,809 No comment.
AL -1,434 Fewer layoffs in the textile, furniture, and manufacturing industries.
MD -1,284 No comment.
CO -1,095 No comment.
LA -1,079 No comment.
MS -1,035 Fewer layoffs in the furniture industry.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
WI +1,274 Layoffs in the construction, service, and manufacturing industries.

State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current

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