News Release |
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U.S. Department of Labor Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. | ||
News Release |
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U.S. Department of Labor Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. | ||
| EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION | USDL 05-490-NAT |
| Program Contact: | TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS |
| Subri Raman (202) 693-3058 | RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL |
| Tony Sznoluch (202) 693-3176 | 8:30 A.M. (EST), THURSDAY |
| Media Contact : | March 24, 2005 |
| (202) 693-4676 | |
Calendar Year 2005 Seasonal Factors: Seasonal factors for CY 2005 and the revised historical series for CY 1999-2004 for both initial claims and continued claims will be made available on March 31, 2005, with the release of the Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending March 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial
claims was 324,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's revised
figure of 321,000. The 4-week moving average was 321,750, an increase of 3,500
from the previous week's revised average of 318,250.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.1 percent for the week ending March 12, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.1 percent.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during
the week ending March 12 was 2,673,000, an increase of 31,000 from the preceding
week's revised level of 2,642,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,668,500,
an increase of 3,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 2,665,250.
UNADJUSTED DATAThe advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 288,962 in the week ending March 19, a decrease of 17,826 from the previous week. There were 304,462 initial claims in the comparable week in 2004.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.4 percent during the
week ending March 12, unchanged from the prior week.
The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs
totaled 3,095,669, an increase of 9,891 from the preceding week. A year earlier,
the rate was 2.8 percent and the volume was 3,513,900.
Extended benefits were not available in any state during the week ending March 5.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 969 in the week ending March 12, a decrease of 77 from the prior week. There were 2,001 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 119 from the preceding week.
There were 18,025 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending March 5, a decrease of 276 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 26,292, a decrease of 188 from the prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending March 5 were in Alaska (5.7 percent), Puerto Rico (4.4), Michigan (4.3), Pennsylvania (3.7), Wisconsin (3.7), New Jersey (3.6), Rhode Island (3.6), Massachusetts (3.5), Idaho (3.4), and Oregon (3.4).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending March 12 were in Texas (+2,999), Oregon (+2,397), Oklahoma (+2,007), Virginia (+1,106), and Alabama (+291), while the largest decreases were in New York (-11,539), Michigan (-4,115), Pennsylvania (-3,414), Minnesota (-1,772), and Connecticut (-1,611).
| Advance | Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING | March 19 | March 12 | Change | March 5 | Year |
| Initial Claims (SA) | 324,000 | 321,000 | +3,000 | 332,000 | 344,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Claims (NSA) | 288,962 | 306,788 | -17,826 | 332,067 | 304,462 |
| 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) | 321,750 | 318,250 | +3,500 | 313,750 | 340,000 |
| Advance | Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING | March 12 | March 5 | Change | Feb. 26 | Year |
| Ins. Unemployment (SA) | 2,673,000 | 2,642,000 | +31,000 | 2,695,000 | 3,027,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ins. Unemployment (NSA) | 3,095,669 | 3,085,778 | +9,891 | 3,225,999 | 3,513,900 |
| 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) | 2,668,500 | 2,665,250 | +3,250 | 2,682,750 | 3,070,250 |
| Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0.0 | 2.1% | 2.4% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 | 2.4% | 2.4% | 0.0 | 2.5% | 2.8% |
|
Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING |
March 12 |
March 5 |
Change |
Year |
| Federal Employees | 969 | 1,046 | -77 | 1,092 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newly Discharged Veterans | 2,001 | 2,120 | -119 | 1,689 |
|
Prior1 | ||||
| WEEK ENDING |
March 5 |
Feb. 26 |
Change |
Year |
| Federal Employees | 18,025 | 18,301 | -276 | 20,539 |
| Newly Discharged Veterans | 26,292 | 26,480 | -188 | 27,687 |
| Railroad Retirement Board | 4,000 | 4,000 | 0 | 4,000 |
| Extended Benefits | 8 | 0 | +8 | 2,428 |
UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 03/12/2005
| State | Change | State Supplied Comment | |
| NY | -11,539 | Fewer layoffs in the transportation and service industries. | |
| MI | -4,115 | Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry. | |
| PA | -3,414 | Fewer layoffs in the construction, transportation, rubber/plastics, wood products, and manufacturing industries. | |
| MN | -1,772 | Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry. | |
| CT | -1,611 | No comment. | |
| IL | -1,388 | Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and manufacturing industries. |
| State | Change | State Supplied Comment | |
| VA | +1,106 | Layoffs in the manufacturing industry. | |
| OK | +2,007 | No comment. | |
| OR | +2,397 | No comment. | |
| TX | +2,999 | Layoffs in the trade, service, and manufacturing industries. |
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/