EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 03-278
   
   
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 June 5, 2003
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending May 31, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 442,000, an increase of 16,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 426,000. The 4-week moving average was 430,500, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's revised average of 427,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent for the week ending May 24, 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 24 was 3,705,000, a decrease of 18,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,723,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,709,750, an increase of 15,500 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,694,250.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 347,237 in the week ending May 31, a decrease of 12,598 from the previous week. There were 309,183 initial claims in the comparable week in 2002.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent during the week ending May 24, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,319,758, a decrease of 83,395 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.6 percent and the volume was 3,325,982.

Extended benefits were available in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington during the week ending May 17.

53 states reported that 841,369 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending May 17.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,143 in the week ending May 24, an increase of 66 from the prior week. There were 1,061 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 51 from the preceding week.

There were 13,786 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending May 17, an increase of 859 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 17,311, an increase of 586 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending May 17 were in Alaska (5.2 percent), Puerto Rico (5.1), Oregon (4.7), Washington (4.0), California (3.8), Pennsylvania (3.7), Idaho (3.4), Michigan (3.2), New Jersey (3.2), and Massachusetts (3.2).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending May 24 were in Illinois (+2,536), New York (+2,277), Indiana (+1,350), Kansas (+1,318), and Washington (+787), while the largest decreases were in Georgia (-2,458),
Oklahoma (-2,453), Tennessee (-1,701), North Carolina (-1,633), and Alabama (-1,430).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING May 31  May 24 Change May 17  Year
Initial Claims (SA) 442,000 426,000 +16,000 433,000 389,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 347,237 359,835 -12,598 361,866 309,183
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 430,500 427,500 +3,000 434,250 408,250
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING May 24 May 17  Change May 10 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,705,000 3,723,000 -18,000 3,677,000 3,712,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 3,319,758 3,403,153 -83,395 3,448,557 3,325,982
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,709,750 3,694,250 +15,500 3,677,500 3,713,250
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.9% 2.9% 0.0 2.9% 2.9%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 2.6% 2.7% -0.1 2.7% 2.6%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
May 24
May 17
Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,143 1,077 +66 1,173
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,061 1,010 +51 976
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
May 17
May 10
Change
Year
Federal Employees 13,786 12,927 +859 13,167
Newly Discharged Veterans 17,311 16,725 +586 13,564
Railroad Retirement Board 3,000 3,000 0 3,000
Extended Benefits 15,679 15,959 -280 2,778
Federal (TEUC) 3 841,369 827,900 +13,469 1,451,893
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 05/24/2003 

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
GA -2,458 Fewer layoffs in the trade industry.
OK -2,453 No comment.
TN -1,701 Fewer layoffs in the industrial machinery, lumber/wood, trade, service, and apparel industries.
NC -1,633 Fewer layoffs in the construction industry.
AL -1,430 Fewer layoffs in the electrical equipment and manufacturing industries.
SC -1,043 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
FL -1,031 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries, and agriculture.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
KS +1,318 Layoffs in the transportation, warehousing, real estate, service, and manufacturing industries.
IN +1,350 Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
NY +2,277 Increase is seasonal, school closings related.
IL +2,536 Layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries.


State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series for 1967 to current

This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-693-4676. TDD Message Phone: 1-800-326-2577.  News releases from the U.S. Department of Labor are accessible on the Internet at: http://www.dol.gov and  https://oui.doleta.gov