News Release
  
U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 11-154-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 10, 2011
(202) 693-4676  
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

          SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA

In the week ending Feb. 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 383,000, a decrease of 36,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 419,000. The 4-week moving average was 415,500, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week's revised average of 431,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.1 percent for the week ending Jan. 29, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.1 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Jan. 29 was 3,888,000, a decrease of 47,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,935,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,932,250, an increase of 250 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,932,000.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 438,548 in the week ending Feb. 5, a decrease of 25,928 from the previous week. There were 507,634 initial claims in the comparable week in 2010.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.6 percent during the week ending Jan. 29, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 4,579,513, a decrease of 52,382 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 4.4 percent and the volume was 5,683,530.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending Jan. 22 was 9,405,527.

 

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Extended benefits were available in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, during the week ending Jan. 22.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 2,399 in the week ending Jan. 29, a decrease of 230 from the prior week. There were 2,569 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 122 from the preceding week.

There were 48,808 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Jan. 22, a decrease of 474 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 41,821, an increase of 1,402 from the prior week.

States reported 3,756,990 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending Jan. 22, an increase of 100,366 from the prior week. There were 5,491,377 claimants in the comparable week in 2010. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Jan. 22 were in Alaska (7.3 percent), Idaho (5.4), Montana (5.3), Wisconsin (5.3), Oregon (5.2), Pennsylvania (5.2), Puerto Rico (5.1), Rhode Island (4.9), Connecticut (4.7), and New Jersey (4.7).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Jan. 29 were in California (+12,274), Pennsylvania (+3,319), Massachusetts (+1,010), Wisconsin (+943), and Puerto Rico (+941), while the largest decreases were in North Carolina (-11,541), Georgia (-5,607), Alabama (-4,128), New Jersey
(-3,037), and Tennessee (-2,950).

 

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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
WEEK ENDING Advance Feb. 5 Jan. 29 Change Jan. 22 Prior Year1
Initial Claims (SA) 383,000 419,000 -36,000 457,000 439,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 438,548 464,476 -25,928 485,950 507,634
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 415,500 431,500 -16,000 429,500 473,500
WEEK ENDING Advance Jan. 29 Jan. 22 Change Jan. 15 Prior Year1
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,888,000 3,935,000 -47,000 4,009,000 4,796,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 4,579,513 4,631,895 -52,382 4,614,079 5,683,530
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,932,250 3,932,000 +250 3,980,000 4,848,750
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 3.1% 3.1% 0.0 3.2% 3.7%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2
 3.6% 3.7% -0.1 3.7% 4.4%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
WEEK ENDING
Jan. 29
Jan. 22
Change
Prior Year1
Federal Employees 2,399 2,629 -230 1,583
Newly Discharged Veterans 2,569 2,447 +122 2,285
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN ALL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
WEEK ENDING
Jan. 22
Jan. 15
Change
Prior Year1
Regular State 4,618,586 4,601,626 +16,960 5,661,462
Federal Employees (UCFE) 48,808 49,282 -474 25,881
Newly Discharged Veterans (UCX) 41,821 40,419 +1,402 37,464
EUC 20083 3,756,990 3,656,624 +100,366 5,491,377
Extended Benefits4 878,674 894,986 -16,312 237,068
State Additional Benefits 5 7,282 6,885 +397 2,050
STC / Workshare 6 53,366 49,450 +3,916 89,564
TOTAL 9,405,527 9,299,272 +106,255 11,544,866
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 125,560,066 as denominator.
3 - EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity. Tier-specific EUC data can be found here: https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/docs/persons.xls
4 - Information on the EB program can be found here: https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/extenben.asp
5 - Some states maintain additional benefit programs for those claimants who exhaust regular, extended and emergency benefits. Information on states that participate and the extent of benefits can be  found starting on page 4-5 of this link: https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2010/special.pdf
6 - Information on STC/Worksharing can be found starting on page 4-9 of the following link: https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2010/special.pdf

 

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UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 01/29/2011 

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
NC -11,541 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, furniture, and stone/clay/glass industries.
GA -5,607 Fewer layoffs in the construction, service, and manufacturing industries.
AL -4,128 Fewer layoffs in the construction, service, and wood products industries.
NJ -3,037 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries.
TN -2,950 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries.
MO -2,133 Fewer layoffs in the construction industry.
FL -1,892 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry, and agriculture.
MI -1,794 Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry.
SC -1,616 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
VA -1,562 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
OR -1,308 No comment.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
MA +1,010 Layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries.
PA +3,319 Layoffs in the construction, service, and transportation industries.
CA +12,274 Return to a five day workweek.

State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current

 

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