News Release
  
U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 03-524
   
   
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 October 2, 2003
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending Sept. 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 399,000, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 386,000. The 4-week moving average was 403,500, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised average of 408,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent for the week ending Sept. 20, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.9 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Sept. 20 was 3,673,000, an increase of 62,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,611,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,645,500, an increase of 16,500 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,629,000.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 300,236 in the week ending Sept. 27, a decrease of 1,058 from the previous week. There were 319,063 initial claims in the comparable week in 2002.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.4 percent during the week ending Sept. 20, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,023,090, a decrease of 20,755 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.3 percent and the volume was 2,988,181.

Extended benefits were available in Alaska, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington during the week ending Sept. 13.

53 states reported that 814,898 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending Sept. 13.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,513 in the week ending Sept. 20, a decrease of 900 from the prior week. There were 1,755 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 86 from the preceding week.

There were 17,952 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Sept. 13, a decrease of 197 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 19,675, an increase of 166 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Sept. 13 were in Puerto Rico (4.9 percent), Oregon (4.1), Alaska (3.5), Pennsylvania (3.4), California (3.3), Washington (3.2), New Jersey (3.1), Massachusetts (2.9), Connecticut (2.8), and Michigan (2.7).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Sept. 20 were in Texas (+1,884), Michigan (+1,755), Kentucky (+468), Alaska (+435), and Iowa (+355), while the largest decreases were in North Carolina (-6,509), New York (-3,594), Virginia (-3,164), California (-2,284), and Georgia (-1,868).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Sept. 27  Sept. 20 Change Sept. 13  Year
Initial Claims (SA) 399,000 386,000 +13,000 401,000 423,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 300,236 301,294 -1,058 327,961 319,063
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 403,500 408,500 -5,000 411,250 417,000
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Sept. 20 Sept. 13  Change Sept. 6 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,673,000 3,611,000 +62,000 3,648,000 3,635,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 3,023,090 3,043,845 -20,755 3,173,450 2,988,181
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,645,500 3,629,000 +16,500 3,634,750 3,598,500
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.9% 2.9% 0.0 2.9% 2.8%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 2.4% 2.4% 0.0 2.5% 2.3%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
Sept. 20
Sept. 13
Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,513 2,413 -900 1,432
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,755 1,841 -86 1,453
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
Sept. 13
Sept. 6
Change
Year
Federal Employees 17,952 18,149 -197 17,898
Newly Discharged Veterans 19,675 19,509 +166 16,368
Railroad Retirement Board 3,000 3,000 0 3,000
Extended Benefits 25,757 25,179 +578 10,416
Federal (TEUC) 3 814,898 839,247 -24,349 1,056,826
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 09/20/2003 

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
NC -6,509 Claims activities decreased because of the closings of several Local Offices due to the Hurricane Isabel, as well as fewer layoffs in the textile and furniture industries.
NY -3,594 No comment.
VA -3,164 Claims activities decreased because of the closings of Local Offices due to the Hurricane Isabel.
CA -2,284 No comment.
GA -1,868 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
PA -1,651 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, food, fabricated metals, industrial machinery, and manufacturing industries.
TN -1,477 Fewer layoffs in the lumber/wood, service, industrial machinery, fabricated metals, and transportation equipment industries.
WA -1,122 No comment.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
MI +1,755 Layoffs in the automobile industry.
TX +1,884 Layoffs in the warehousing, information, and manufacturing industries.


State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current

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