EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 03-135
   
   
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 March 20, 2003
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending March 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 421,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 425,000. The 4-week moving average was 424,750, an increase of 3,750 from the previous week's revised average of 421,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.8 percent for the week ending March 8, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's revised rate of 2.7 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending March 8 was 3,548,000, an increase of 66,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,482,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,463,500, an increase of 32,750 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,430,750.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 383,844 in the week ending March 15, a decrease of 30,104 from the previous week. There were 351,855 initial claims in the comparable week in 2002.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.2 percent during the week ending March 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 4,119,039, a decrease of 72,755 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.2 percent and the volume was 4,107,719.

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

53 states reported that 736,765 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending March 1.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,200 in the week ending March 8, an increase of 63 from the prior week. There were 1,452 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 120 from the preceding week.

There were 17,850 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending March 1, a decrease of 1,968 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 19,708, a decrease of 940 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending March 1 were in Alaska (7.0 percent), Pennsylvania (5.3), Idaho (5.1), Oregon (5.1), Puerto Rico (4.9), Washington (4.7), Wisconsin (4.6), Michigan (4.5), Massachusetts (4.3), Rhode Island (4.3), and West Virginia (4.3).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending March 8 were in Texas (+6,462), Florida (+2,027), Oklahoma (+2,026), Georgia (+1,405), and Oregon (+996), while the largest decreases were in New York (-10,689), Michigan (-4,037), North Carolina (-2,330), New Jersey (-2,062), and Connecticut (-1,816).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING March 15  March 8 Change March 1  Year
Initial Claims (SA) 421,000 425,000 -4,000 435,000 390,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 383,844 413,948 -30,104 428,889 351,855
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 424,750 421,000 +3,750 410,000 394,250
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING March 8 March 1  Change Feb. 22 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,548,000 3,482,000 +66,000 3,483,000 3,544,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 4,119,039 4,191,794 -72,755 4,192,955 4,107,719
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,463,500 3,430,750 +32,750 3,384,000 3,526,250
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.8% 2.7% +0.1 2.7% 2.8%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 3.2% 3.3% -0.1 3.3% 3.2%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
March 8
March 1
Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,200 1,137 +63 918
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,452 1,332 +120 1,081
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
March 1
Feb. 22
Change
Year
Federal Employees 17,850 19,818 -1,968 16,779
Newly Discharged Veterans 19,708 20,648 -940 15,941
Railroad Retirement Board 6,000 6,000 0 7,000
Extended Benefits 17,510 17,425 +85 37,946
Federal (TEUC) 736,765 822,510 -85,745 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 03/08/2003 

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
NY -10,689 Decrease due to schools returning to session after spring break.
MI -4,037 Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry.
NC -2,330 Fewer layoffs in the construction and apparel industries.
NJ -2,062 Fewer layoffs in the trade, service, real estate, and manufacturing industries.
CT -1,816 No comment.
KS -1,421 Fewer layoffs in the information and manufacturing industries.
MO -1,389 Fewer layoffs in the construction and electrical machinery industries.
IL -1,084 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
GA +1,405 Layoffs in the carpets/rugs industry.
OK +2,026 No comment.
FL +2,027 Layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries.
TX +6,462 Layoffs in the construction, trade, and manufacturing industries.


State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current

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