News Release
  
U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 03-405
   
   
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 July 31, 2003
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending July 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 388,000, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 391,000. The 4-week moving average was 408,750, a decrease of 11,750 from the previous week's revised average of 420,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent for the week ending July 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 July 19 was 3,648,000, an increase of 63,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,585,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,663,750, a decrease of 20,000 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,683,750.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 344,327 in the week ending July 26, a decrease of 84,557 from the previous week. There were 338,441 initial claims in the comparable week in 2002.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.8 percent during the week ending July 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 3,571,191, a decrease of 128,200 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.7 percent and the volume was 3,403,334.

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

53 states reported that 836,911 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending July 12.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,781 in the week ending July 19, a decrease of 758 from the prior week. There were 1,389 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 80 from the preceding week.

There were 17,937 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending July 12, an increase of 2,133 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 17,290, an increase of 567 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending July 12 were in Puerto Rico (5.2 percent), Michigan (4.6), Oregon (4.4), Alaska (4.2), Pennsylvania (4.1), California (3.7), New Jersey (3.7), Washington (3.6), Connecticut (3.5), and Rhode Island (3.5).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending July 19 were in Missouri (+2,868), Kansas (+605), and Maine (+87), while the largest decreases were in New York (-17,548), South Carolina (-10,874),
Indiana (-9,956), Pennsylvania (-8,327), and North Carolina (-7,691).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING July 26  July 19 Change July 12  Year
Initial Claims (SA) 388,000 391,000 -3,000 415,000 389,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 344,327 428,884 -84,557 552,267 338,441
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 408,750 420,500 -11,750 424,750 387,250
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING July 19 July 12  Change July 5 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,648,000 3,585,000 +63,000 3,642,000 3,501,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 3,571,191 3,699,391 -128,200 3,627,409 3,403,334
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,663,750 3,683,750 -20,000 3,716,500 3,542,750
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.9% 2.8% +0.1 2.9% 2.7%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 2.8% 2.9% -0.1 2.9% 2.7%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
July 19
July 12
Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,781 2,539 -758 1,594
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,389 1,469 -80 1,304
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
July 12
July 5
Change
Year
Federal Employees 17,937 15,804 +2,133 17,205
Newly Discharged Veterans 17,290 16,723 +567 14,033
Railroad Retirement Board 2,000 2,000 0 3,000
Extended Benefits 13,673 14,470 -797 680
Federal (TEUC) 3 836,911 854,034 -17,123 1,013,075
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 126,541,290 as denominator.
3 - Prior year level based on the reports of 51 states.

UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 07/19/2003 

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
NY -17,548 Fewer layoffs in the service industry.
SC -10,874 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
IN -9,956 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
PA -8,327 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, food, and fabricated metals industries.
NC -7,691 Fewer layoffs in the textile and furniture industries.
CA -7,444 Fewer layoffs in the service industry, and agriculture.
MI -7,349 Fewer layoffs in the automobile and related industries.
AL -6,301 Fewer layoffs in the construction and textile industries.
WI -4,353 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries.
GA -4,063 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
TN -3,834 Fewer layoffs in the lumber/wood, apparel, scientific instruments, food, and manufacturing industries.
MS -3,269 No comment.
WA -2,546 No comment.
KY -2,404 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
FL -2,131 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries, and agriculture.
MA -2,052 No comment.
VA -1,924 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
OK -1,874 No comment.
MN -1,840 No comment.
AR -1,826 No comment.
NJ -1,787 Fewer layoffs in the service, transportation, warehousing, and public administration industries.
OR -1,757 No comment.
AZ -1,731 No comment.
CT -1,610 No comment.
DE -1,349 No comment.
PR -1,072 No comment.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
MO +2,868 Layoffs in the transportation industry.


State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current

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