EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 03-257
   
   
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 22, 2003
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending May 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 428,000, an increase of 7,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 421,000. The 4-week moving average was 433,000, a decrease of 7,750 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 May 10, unchanged from the prior week's revised rate of 2.9 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending May 10 was 3,699,000, a decrease of 36,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,735,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,683,250, an increase of 34,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,649,000.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 357,445 in the week ending May 17, a decrease of 6,081 from the previous week. There were 348,887 initial claims in the comparable week in 2002.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.7 percent during the week ending May 10, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,470,018, a decrease of 33,345 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.7 percent and the volume was 3,483,300.

Extended benefits were available in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington during the week ending May 3.

53 states reported that 830,037 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending May 3.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,144 in the week ending May 10, an increase of 181 from the prior week. There were 1,282 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 173 from the preceding week.

There were 14,678 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending May 3, an increase of 886 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 17,552, an increase of 163 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending May 3 were in Puerto Rico (6.5 percent), Alaska (5.6), Oregon (4.9), Washington (4.2), California (3.9), Pennsylvania (3.8), Idaho (3.7), Michigan (3.4), Massachusetts (3.3), and New Jersey (3.3).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending May 10 were in Virginia (+1,392), Michigan (+1,309), Maryland (+1,269), Florida(+1,195), and Kentucky (+1,060), while the largest decreases were in New York
(-9,638), South Carolina (-1,588), Georgia (-1,481), New Jersey (-1,438), and Iowa (-1,236).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING May 17  May 10 Change May 3  Year
Initial Claims (SA) 428,000 421,000 +7,000 430,000 417,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 357,445 363,526 -6,081 376,724 348,887
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 433,000 440,750 -7,750 447,250 416,500
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING May 10 May 3  Change April 26 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,699,000 3,735,000 -36,000 3,643,000 3,714,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 3,470,018 3,503,363 -33,345 3,621,019 3,483,300
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,683,250 3,649,000 +34,250 3,600,750 3,692,000
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.9% 2.9% 0.0 2.9% 2.9%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 2.7% 2.8% -0.1 2.9% 2.7%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
May 10
May 3
Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,144 963 +181 1,523
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,282 1,109 +173 962
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
May 3
April 26
Change
Year
Federal Employees 14,678 13,792 +886 13,564
Newly Discharged Veterans 17,552 17,389 +163 13,873
Railroad Retirement Board 3,000 3,000 0 4,000
Extended Benefits 16,629 16,253 +376 3,652
Federal (TEUC) 3 830,037 808,950 +21,087 1,438,613
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 05/10/2003 

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
NY -9,638 No comment.
SC -1,588 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
GA -1,481 No comment.
NJ -1,438 Fewer layoffs in the transportation, warehousing, and service industries.
IA -1,236 No comment.
OH -1,221 No comment.
PA -1,144 No comment.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
WI +1,005 Layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries.
IL +1,021 Layoffs in the trade, service, and manufacturing industries.
KY +1,060 Layoffs in the public finance industry.
FL +1,195 Layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries.
MD +1,269 No comment.
MI +1,309 Layoffs in the automobile industry.
VA +1,392 Layoffs in the textile and furniture industries.


State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series for 1967 to current

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