News Release |
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U.S. Department of Labor Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. | ||
| EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION | USDL 08-248-NAT |
| Program Contact: | TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS |
| Scott Gibbons (202) 693-3008 | RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL |
| Tony Sznoluch (202) 693-3176 | 8:30 A.M. (EST), THURSDAY |
| Media Contact : | February 28, 2008 |
| (202) 693-4676 | |
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending Feb. 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial
claims was 373,000, an increase of 19,000 from the previous week's revised
figure of 354,000. The 4-week moving average was 360,500, a decrease of 1,250
from the previous week's revised average of 361,750.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.1 percent for the week ending Feb. 16, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.1 percent.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Feb. 16 was 2,807,000, an increase of 21,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 2,786,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,777,500, an increase of 24,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 2,753,250.
UNADJUSTED DATAThe advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 328,178 in the week ending Feb. 23, an increase of 2,447 from the previous week. There were 299,000 initial claims in the comparable week in 2007.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent during the
week ending Feb. 16, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number
for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,304,389, a decrease
of 11,169 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.3 percent
and the volume was 3,075,023.
Extended benefits were not available in any state during the week ending Feb. 9.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 874 in the week ending Feb. 16, a decrease of 234 from the prior week. There were 1,419 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 154 from the preceding week.
There were 16,327 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Feb. 9, a decrease of 2,350 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 23,235, a decrease of 140 from the prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Feb. 9 were in Alaska (4.8 percent), Michigan (4.4), Rhode Island (4.2), Idaho (4.0), Pennsylvania (3.8), Wisconsin (3.8), Oregon (3.7), Massachusetts (3.4), New Jersey (3.4), and Vermont (3.3).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Feb. 16 were in North Carolina (+1,201), Wisconsin (+259), Louisiana (+172), and Rhode Island (+78), while the largest decreases were in California (-16,027), Kentucky (-4,709), Illinois (-3,912), Oregon (-3,078), and Michigan (-2,827).
| Advance | Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING | Feb. 23 | Feb. 16 | Change | Feb. 9 | Year |
| Initial Claims (SA) | 373,000 | 354,000 | +19,000 | 358,000 | 337,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Claims (NSA) | 328,178 | 325,731 | +2,447 | 377,457 | 299,000 |
| 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) | 360,500 | 361,750 | -1,250 | 349,750 | 335,000 |
| Advance | Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING | Feb. 16 | Feb. 9 | Change | Feb. 2 | Year |
| Ins. Unemployment (SA) | 2,807,000 | 2,786,000 | +21,000 | 2,737,000 | 2,624,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ins. Unemployment (NSA) | 3,304,389 | 3,315,558 | -11,169 | 3,328,590 | 3,075,023 |
| 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) | 2,777,500 | 2,753,250 | +24,250 | 2,724,000 | 2,534,500 |
| Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0.0 | 2.1% | 2.0% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ins. Unemployment Rate
(NSA)2 |
2.5% | 2.5% | 0.0 | 2.5% | 2.3% |
|
Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING |
Feb. 16 |
Feb. 9 |
Change |
Year |
| Federal Employees | 874 | 1,108 | -234 | 888 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newly Discharged Veterans | 1,419 | 1,573 | -154 | 1,584 |
|
Prior1 | ||||
| WEEK ENDING |
Feb. 9 |
Feb. 2 |
Change |
Year |
| Federal Employees | 16,327 | 18,677 | -2,350 | 16,206 |
| Newly Discharged Veterans | 23,235 | 23,375 | -140 | 24,159 |
| Railroad Retirement Board | 4,000 | 4,000 | 0 | 3,000 |
| Extended Benefits | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 02/16/2008
| State | Change | State Supplied Comment | |
| CA | -16,027 | Fewer layoffs in the service industry. | |
| KY | -4,709 | Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry. | |
| IL | -3,912 | Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and manufacturing industries. | |
| OR | -3,078 | No comment. | |
| MI | -2,827 | No comment. | |
| PA | -2,139 | Fewer layoffs in the chemical, petroleum, information, and electrical equipment industries. | |
| WA | -2,077 | No comment. | |
| GA | -1,918 | Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry. | |
| OH | -1,856 | No comment. | |
| NY | -1,470 | Fewer layoffs in the transportation and manufacturing industries. | |
| NJ | -1,299 | Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries. | |
| SC | -1,279 | Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry. | |
| FL | -1,186 | No comment. |
| State | Change | State Supplied Comment | |
| NC | +1,201 | Layoffs in the construction, transportation equipment, and lumber/wood industries. |
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