News Release
  
U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 03-473
   
   
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 September 11, 2003
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending Sept. 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 422,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 419,000. The 4-week moving average was 407,250, an increase of 4,500 from the previous week's revised average of 402,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent for the week ending Aug. 30, 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. 30 was 3,672,000, an increase of 61,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,611,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,636,750, an increase of 11,000 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,625,750.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 317,598 in the week ending Sept. 6, a decrease of 1,328 from the previous week. There were 318,361 initial claims in the comparable week in 2002.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent during the week ending Aug. 30, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,139,736, a decrease of 117,195 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.4 percent and the volume was 3,052,551.
 

Extended benefits were available in Alaska, Michigan, Oregon, and Washington during the week ending Aug. 23.

53 states reported that 836,950 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending Aug. 23.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,409 in the week ending Aug. 30, an increase of 196 from the prior week. There were 1,775 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 30 from the preceding week.

There were 18,040 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Aug. 23, an increase of 242 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 18,650, an increase of 828 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Aug. 23 were in Puerto Rico (5.1 percent), Oregon (3.9), Alaska (3.8), Pennsylvania (3.7), New Jersey (3.6), California (3.4), Connecticut (3.4), Washington (3.4), Massachusetts (3.2), and Rhode Island (3.1).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Aug. 30 were in Kentucky (+2,805), Georgia (+1,892), California (+1,217), New York (+1,104), and Delaware (+1,092), while the largest decreases were in Michigan
(-2,889), Alabama (-1,659), North Carolina (-919), Florida (-801), and Texas (-587).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Sept. 6  Aug. 30 Change Aug. 23  Year
Initial Claims (SA) 422,000 419,000 +3,000 397,000 418,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 317,598 318,926 -1,328 312,785 318,361
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 407,250 402,750 +4,500 397,000 405,250
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Aug. 30 Aug. 23  Change Aug. 16 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,672,000 3,611,000 +61,000 3,634,000 3,587,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 3,139,736 3,256,931 -117,195 3,343,255 3,052,551
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,636,750 3,625,750 +11,000 3,637,500 3,551,000
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.9% 2.9% 0.0 2.9% 2.8%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 2.5% 2.6% -0.1 2.6% 2.4%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
Aug. 30
Aug. 23
Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,409 1,213 +196 1,373
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,775 1,745 +30 1,437
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
Aug. 23
Aug. 16
Change
Year
Federal Employees 18,040 17,798 +242 17,725
Newly Discharged Veterans 18,650 17,822 +828 15,470
Railroad Retirement Board 3,000 3,000 0 3,000
Extended Benefits 24,821 24,734 +87 2,431
Federal (TEUC) 3 836,950 827,062 +9,888 1,099,868
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 53 states.

UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 08/30/2003 

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
MI -2,889 Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry.
AL -1,659 Fewer layoffs in the textile and wood products industries.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
DE +1,092 No comment.
NY +1,104 No comment.
CA +1,217 No comment.
GA +1,892 Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
KY +2,805 Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.


State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current

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