EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 03-61
   
   
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 13, 2003
 

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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending Feb. 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 377,000, a decrease of 18,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 395,000. The 4-week moving average was 389,000, an increase of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average of 385,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending Feb. 1, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.6 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Feb. 1 was 3,312,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,324,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,318,000, a decrease of 2,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,320,250.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 434,570 in the week ending Feb. 8, a decrease of 14,499 from the previous week. There were 438,611 initial claims in the comparable week in 2002.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.3 percent during the week ending Feb. 1, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 4,169,293, an increase of 37,820 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.4 percent and the volume was 4,347,221.

Extended benefits were available in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington during the week ending Jan. 25.

53 states reported that 838,955 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending Jan. 25.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,552 in the week ending Feb. 1, an increase of 226 from the prior week. There were 1,359 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 74 from the preceding week.

There were 22,475 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Jan. 25, an increase of 1,316 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 21,462, an increase of 889 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Jan. 25 were in Alaska (6.9 percent), Puerto Rico (5.4), Idaho (4.9), Washington (4.9), Wisconsin (4.8), Pennsylvania (4.7), Michigan (4.4), Rhode Island (4.3), Massachusetts (4.2), and West Virginia (4.2).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Feb. 1 were in North Carolina (+10,059), Georgia (+3,614), South Carolina (+2,628), Virginia (+2,618), and Tennessee (+2,003), while the largest decreases were in Alabama (-3,845), Pennsylvania (-2,077), Wisconsin (-1,803), Ohio (-1,595), and Texas (-1,437).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Feb. 8  Feb. 1 Change Jan. 25  Year
Initial Claims (SA) 377,000 395,000 -18,000 401,000 388,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 434,570 449,069 -14,499 434,888 438,611
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 389,000 385,500 +3,500 385,000 396,250
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING  Feb. 1 Jan. 25  Change Jan. 18 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,312,000 3,324,000 -12,000 3,297,000 3,461,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 4,169,293 4,131,473 +37,820 4,068,516 4,347,221
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,318,000 3,320,250 -2,250 3,349,750 3,471,000
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.6% 2.6% 0.0 2.6% 2.7%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 3.3% 3.3% 0.0 3.2% 3.4%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
Feb. 1 
Jan. 25 
Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,552 1,326 +226 1,363
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,359 1,285 +74 1,220
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
Jan. 25
Jan. 18
Change
Year
Federal Employees 22,475 21,159 +1,316 20,166
Newly Discharged Veterans 21,462 20,573 +889 16,926
Railroad Retirement Board 8,000 8,000 0 9,000
Extended Benefits 17,391 17,379 +12 30,925
Federal (TEUC) 838,955 722,376 +116,579 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 02/01/2003 

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
AL -3,845 Fewer layoffs in the lumber/wood, textile, apparel, and manufacturing industries.
PA -2,077 Fewer layoffs in the furniture, mining, petroleum, industrial machinery, leather goods, and boot/shoe industries.
WI -1,803 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries.
OH -1,595 No comment.
TX -1,437 Fewer layoffs in the service and manufacturing industries.
MA -1,150 No comment.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
NJ +1,009 Layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries.
DE +1,371 No comment.
TN +2,003 Layoffs in the rubber/plastics, electronic equipment, and finance industries.
VA +2,618 Layoffs in the furniture and service industries.
SC +2,628 Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
GA +3,614 Layoffs in the automobile and transportation equipment industries.
NC +10,059 Layoffs in the construction, textile, apparel, and furniture industries.

State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current

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