EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 03-79
   
   
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 20, 2003
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending Feb. 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 402,000, an increase of 21,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 381,000. The 4-week moving average was 394,750, an increase of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average of 390,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.7 percent for the week ending Feb. 8, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.6 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Feb. 8 was 3,444,000, an increase of 147,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,297,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,344,000, an increase of 26,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,317,750.

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 393,384 in the week ending Feb. 15, a decrease of 45,974 from the previous week. There were 376,573 initial claims in the comparable week in 2002.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.2 percent during the week ending Feb. 8, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 4,122,307, a decrease of 28,389 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.3 percent and the volume was 4,238,337.

Extended benefits were available in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington during the week ending Feb. 1.

53 states reported that 684,095 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending Feb. 1.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,238 in the week ending Feb. 8, a decrease of 321 from the prior week. There were 1,436 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 71 from the preceding week.

There were 20,577 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Feb. 1, a decrease of 2,293 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 20,538, a decrease of 1,072 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Feb. 1 were in Alaska (7.1 percent), Oregon (5.3), Idaho (5.1), Pennsylvania (5.1), Washington (5.0), Puerto Rico (4.8), Wisconsin (4.7), Michigan (4.3), Rhode Island (4.3), and Massachusetts (4.2).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Feb. 8 were in Texas (+3,940), California (+3,620), Michigan (+2,956), Florida (+1,349), and Colorado (+1,159), while the largest decreases were in North Carolina
(-5,836), Tennessee (-4,255), Virginia (-2,346), Georgia (-1,908), and Delaware (-1,681).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Feb. 15  Feb. 8 Change Feb. 1  Year
Initial Claims (SA) 402,000 381,000 +21,000 395,000 387,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 393,384 439,358 -45,974 449,286 376,573
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 394,750 390,000 +4,750 385,500 393,000
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Feb. 8 Feb. 1  Change Jan. 25 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,444,000 3,297,000 +147,000 3,338,000 3,541,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 4,122,307 4,150,696 -28,389 4,149,699 4,238,337
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,344,000 3,317,750 +26,250 3,323,750 3,482,750
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.7% 2.6% +0.1 2.6% 2.8%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 3.2% 3.3% -0.1 3.3% 3.3%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
Feb. 8 
Feb. 1 
Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,238 1,559 -321 1,174
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,436 1,365 +71 1,222
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
Feb. 1
Jan. 25
Change
Year
Federal Employees 20,577 22,870 -2,293 19,085
Newly Discharged Veterans 20,538 21,610 -1,072 16,717
Railroad Retirement Board 8,000 8,000 0 8,000
Extended Benefits 17,478 17,391 +87 32,302
Federal (TEUC) 684,095 838,955 -154,860 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 02/08/2003 

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
NC -5,836 Fewer layoffs in the construction and furniture industries.
TN -4,255 Fewer layoffs in the food, trade, service, apparel, and rubber/plastics industries.
VA -2,346 Fewer layoffs in the apparel and primary metals industries.
GA -1,908 Fewer layoffs in the automobile, transportation equipment, textile, and carpets/rugs industries.
DE -1,681 No comment.
WA -1,118 No comment.
WI -1,072 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries.
ME -1,013 No comment.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
CO +1,159 No comment.
FL +1,349 Layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries.
MI +2,956 Layoffs in the automobile industry.
CA +3,620 Layoffs in the service industry, and agriculture.
TX +3,940 Layoffs in the information, mining, and manufacturing industries.

State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current

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