EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 03-206
   
   
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 May 1, 2003
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending April 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 448,000, a decrease of 13,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 461,000. The 4-week moving average was 442,000, an increase of 1,250 from the previous week's revised average of 440,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent for the week ending April 19, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.8 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending April 19 was 3,679,000, an increase of 110,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,569,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,569,500, an increase of 31,750 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,537,750.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 396,980 in the week ending April 26, a decrease of 2,773 from the previous week. There were 367,350 initial claims in the comparable week in 2002.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent during the week ending April 19, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,675,375, a decrease of 68,416 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.8 percent and the volume was 3,641,561.

Extended benefits were available in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington during the week ending April 12.

53 states reported that 788,603 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending April 12.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 934 in the week ending April 19, a decrease of 372 from the prior week. There were 1,056 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 211 from the preceding week.

There were 14,803 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending April 12, a decrease of 1,358 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 17,604, a decrease of 651 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending April 12 were in Alaska (6.1 percent), Oregon (5.0), Washington (4.4), Pennsylvania (4.3), Michigan (4.1), California (4.0), Wisconsin (3.9), Vermont (3.8), Idaho (3.7), Massachusetts (3.7), and Puerto Rico (3.7).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending April 19 were in North Carolina (+7,049), Ohio (+3,667), Georgia (+2,065), Alabama(+1,129), and Rhode Island (+1,099), while the largest decreases were in Michigan (-13,872), Indiana (-4,119), California (-3,832), Pennsylvania (-3,784), and Texas (-3,412).


UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS

Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING April 26  April 19 Change April 12  Year

Initial Claims (SA) 448,000 461,000 -13,000 447,000 419,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 396,980 399,753 -2,773 434,297 367,350
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 442,000 440,750 +1,250 426,000 432,250
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING April 19 April 12  Change April 5 Year

Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,679,000 3,569,000 +110,000 3,542,000 3,664,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 3,675,375 3,743,791 -68,416 3,701,064 3,641,561
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,569,500 3,537,750 +31,750 3,514,000 3,664,500

Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.9% 2.8% +0.1 2.8% 2.9%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 2.9% 3.0% -0.1 2.9% 2.8%

INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
April 19
April 12
Change
Year

Federal Employees 934 1,306 -372 1,134
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,056 1,267 -211 1,028

PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

Prior1
WEEK ENDING
April 12
April 5
Change
Year

Federal Employees 14,803 16,161 -1,358 14,281
Newly Discharged Veterans 17,604 18,255 -651 14,769
Railroad Retirement Board 4,000 4,000 0 5,000
Extended Benefits 16,775 17,108 -333 3,051
Federal (TEUC) 3 788,603 802,777 -14,174 1,043,524

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 126,632,357 as denominator.
3 - Prior year level based on the reports of 49 states.


UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 04/19/2003 


STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
MI -13,872 Fewer layoffs in the automobile and furniture industries.
IN -4,119 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
CA -3,832 Fewer layoffs in the trade and service industries.
PA -3,784 Fewer layoffs in the food, lumber/wood, paper, electrical equipment, transportation equipment, trade, and service industries.
TX -3,412 Fewer layoffs in the transportation and manufacturing industries.
LA -2,696 Fewer layoffs in the transportation equipment industry.
KY -2,151 No comment.
WA -1,919 No comment.
OR -1,771 No comment.
MO -1,698 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries.
DE -1,543 No comment.
AZ -1,511 No comment.
MD -1,308 No comment.
MN -1,009 Fewer layoffs in the transportation, warehousing, and manufacturing industries.

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
RI +1,099 Layoffs in the service and manufacturing industries.
AL +1,129 Layoffs in the rubber/plastics and textile industries.
GA +2,065 Layoffs in the textile, furniture, transportation equipment, and manufacturing industries.
OH +3,667 Layoffs in the transportation equipment industry.
NC +7,049 Layoffs in the construction, trade, and tobacco industries.


State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series for 1967 to current


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