EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 03-222
   
   
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 8, 2003
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending May 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 425,000, a decrease of 28,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 453,000. The 4-week moving average was 446,000, an increase of 3,250 from the previous week's revised average of 442,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent for the week ending April 26, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.9 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending April 26 was 3,665,000, an increase of 6,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,659,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,607,000, an increase of 44,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,562,750.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 372,160 in the week ending May 3, a decrease of 29,208 from the previous week. There were 362,681 initial claims in the comparable week in 2002.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent during the week ending April 26, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,642,881, a decrease of 12,469 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.8 percent and the volume was 3,633,702.

Extended benefits were available in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington during the week ending April 19.

53 states reported that 811,550 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending April 19.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,010 in the week ending April 26, an increase of 74 from the prior week. There were 1,120 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 61 from the preceding week.

There were 15,431 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending April 19, an increase of 831 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 18,033, an increase of 437 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending April 19 were in Alaska (6.2 percent), Oregon (4.9), Washington (4.3), Pennsylvania (4.2), Idaho (4.0), Michigan (4.0), California (3.9), Connecticut (3.7), Vermont (3.7), and Wisconsin (3.7).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending April 26 were in New Jersey (+6,563), Massachusetts (+5,616), New York (+4,860), Indiana(+2,220), and Delaware (+1,149), while the largest decreases were in Ohio (-5,587), California (-2,760), North Carolina (-2,302), Michigan (-1,464), and Pennsylvania (-1,464).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING May 3  April 26 Change April 19  Year
Initial Claims (SA) 425,000 453,000 -28,000 459,000 412,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 372,160 401,368 -29,208 398,781 362,681
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 446,000 442,750 +3,250 440,250 425,500
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING April 26 April 19  Change April 12 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,665,000 3,659,000 +6,000 3,562,000 3,670,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 3,642,881 3,655,350 -12,469 3,736,748 3,633,702
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,607,000 3,562,750 +44,250 3,536,000 3,663,750
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.9% 2.9% 0.0 2.8% 2.9%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 2.9% 2.9% 0.0 3.0% 2.8%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
April 26
April 19
Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,010 936 +74 1,190
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,120 1,059 +61 931
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
April 19
April 12
Change
Year
Federal Employees 15,431 14,600 +831 14,352
Newly Discharged Veterans 18,033 17,596 +437 14,194
Railroad Retirement Board 4,000 4,000 0 4,000
Extended Benefits 16,708 16,773 -65 4,558
Federal (TEUC) 3 811,550 788,603 +22,947 1,436,925
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 04/26/2003 

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
OH -5,587 No comment.
CA -2,760 Fewer layoffs in agriculture.
NC -2,302 Fewer layoffs in the construction, tobacco, and transportation industries.
MI -1,464 Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry.
PA -1,464 Fewer layoffs in the construction, industrial machinery, transportation, and fabricated metals industries.
AL -1,402 Fewer layoffs in the construction, rubber/plastics, and furniture industries.
RI -1,281 Fewer layoffs in the trade and service industries.
IL -1,244 Fewer layoffs in the trade, service, and manufacturing industries.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
LA +1,049 No comment.
GA +1,056 Layoffs in the trade and textile industries.
DE +1,149 No comment.
IN +2,220 Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
NY +4,860 Increase is seasonal, school closings related.
MA +5,616 Seasonal layoffs due to school closings, as well as layoffs in the transportation, electrical equipment, and manufacturing industries.
NJ +6,563 Seasonal layoffs due to school closings, as well as layoffs in the transportation, warehousing, service, and public administration industries.


State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series for 1967 to current

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