News Release
  
U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 03-440
   
   
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 August 21, 2003
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending Aug. 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 386,000, a decrease of 17,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 403,000. The 4-week moving average was 394,250, a decrease of 1,250 from the previous week's revised average of 395,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent for the week ending Aug. 9, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.9 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Aug. 9 was 3,673,000, an increase of 41,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,632,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,645,250, an increase of 22,500 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,622,750.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 307,937 in the week ending Aug. 16, a decrease of 39,850 from the previous week. There were 313,869 initial claims in the comparable week in 2002.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.7 percent during the week ending Aug. 9, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,419,378, a decrease of 2,395 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.6 percent and the volume was 3,272,880.
 

Extended benefits were available in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington during the week ending Aug. 2.

53 states reported that 833,469 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending Aug. 2.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,329 in the week ending Aug. 9, a decrease of 72 from the prior week. There were 1,612 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 138 from the preceding week.

There were 18,500 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Aug. 2, a decrease of 374 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 17,151, a decrease of 593 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Aug. 2 were in Puerto Rico (5.0 percent), Oregon (4.2), Pennsylvania (3.9), Alaska (3.8), Washington (3.7), California (3.6), New Jersey (3.5), Connecticut (3.4), Massachusetts (3.4), and Rhode Island (3.2).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Aug. 9 were in Michigan (+2,648), Illinois (+2,152), North Carolina (+1,653), Indiana (+1,638), and California (+1,602), while the largest decreases were in South Carolina (-1,742), Virginia (-803), Nebraska (-427), Ohio (-398), and Wisconsin (-366).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Aug. 16  Aug. 9 Change Aug. 2  Year
Initial Claims (SA) 386,000 403,000 -17,000 396,000 396,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 307,937 347,787 -39,850 333,506 313,869
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 394,250 395,500 -1,250 398,500 390,000
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Aug. 9 Aug. 2  Change July 26 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,673,000 3,632,000 +41,000 3,658,000 3,515,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 3,419,378 3,421,773 -2,395 3,508,332 3,272,880
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,645,250 3,622,750 +22,500 3,625,250 3,512,250
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.9% 2.9% 0.0 2.9% 2.7%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 2.7% 2.7% 0.0 2.8% 2.6%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
Aug. 9
Aug. 2
Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,329 1,401 -72 1,253
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,612 1,474 +138 1,419
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
Aug. 2
July 26
Change
Year
Federal Employees 18,500 18,874 -374 17,296
Newly Discharged Veterans 17,151 17,744 -593 14,697
Railroad Retirement Board 3,000 3,000 0 3,000
Extended Benefits 13,352 13,127 +225 1,544
Federal (TEUC) 3 833,469 851,421 -17,952 1,096,349
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 52 states.

UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 08/09/2003 

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
SC -1,742 Fewer layoffs in the textile industry.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
MA +1,322 Layoffs in the trade, service, and manufacturing industries.
CA +1,602 Layoffs in the service and manufacturing industries.
IN +1,638 Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
NC +1,653 Layoffs in the furniture industry.
IL +2,152 Layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries.
MI +2,648 Layoffs in the automobile industry.



State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current

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