News Release
  
U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 11-200-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 17, 2011
(202) 693-4676  
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

          SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA

In the week ending Feb. 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 410,000, an increase of 25,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 385,000. The 4-week moving average was 417,750, an increase of 1,750 from the previous week's revised average of 416,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.1 percent for the week ending Feb. 5, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.1 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Feb.5 was 3,911,000, an increase of 1,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,910,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,941,500, an increase of 3,500 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,938,000.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 421,713 in the week ending Feb. 12, a decrease of 19,271 from the previous week. There were 478,235 initial claims in the comparable week in 2010.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.6 percent during the week ending Feb. 5, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 4,544,310, a decrease of 62,137 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 4.3 percent and the volume was 5,597,688.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending Jan. 29 was 9,250,156.

 

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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. 29.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 2,198 in the week ending Feb. 5, a decrease of 216 from the prior week. There were 2,584 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 7 from the preceding week.

There were 48,828 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Jan. 29, an increase of 224 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 40,614, a decrease of 1,290 from the prior week.

States reported 3,629,604 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending Jan. 29, a decrease of 127,386 from the prior week. There were 5,795,648 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. 29 were in Alaska (6.9 percent), Pennsylvania (5.6), Montana (5.5), Idaho (5.4), Oregon (5.1), Wisconsin (5.1), Puerto Rico (5.0), Rhode Island (4.9), Connecticut (4.8), New Jersey (4.8), and Illinois (4.7).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Feb. 5 were in Michigan (+2,693), North Carolina (+1,222), New Jersey (+877), Maryland (+527), and Pennsylvania (+475), while the largest decreases were in Florida (-4,542), Texas (-3,657), South Carolina (-2,780), Tennessee (-2,535), and Georgia (-1,784).

 

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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
WEEK ENDING Advance Feb. 12 Feb. 5 Change Jan. 29 Prior Year1
Initial Claims (SA) 410,000 385,000 +25,000 419,000 479,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 421,713 440,984 -19,271 464,775 478,235
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 417,750 416,000 +1,750 431,500 471,000
WEEK ENDING Advance Feb. 5 Jan. 29 Change Jan. 22 Prior Year1
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,911,000 3,910,000 +1,000 3,936,000 4,846,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 4,544,310 4,606,447 -62,137 4,632,950 5,597,688
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,941,500 3,938,000 +3,500 3,932,250 4,836,500
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 3.1% 3.1% 0.0 3.1% 3.7%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2
 3.6% 3.7% -0.1 3.7% 4.3%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
WEEK ENDING
Feb. 5
Jan. 29
Change
Prior Year1
Federal Employees 2,198 2,414 -216 1,454
Newly Discharged Veterans 2,584 2,577 +7 2,323
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN ALL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
WEEK ENDING
Jan. 29
Jan. 22
Change
Prior Year1
Regular State 4,591,477 4,619,641 -28,164 5,661,808
Federal Employees (UCFE) 48,828 48,604 +224 26,331
Newly Discharged Veterans (UCX) 40,614 41,904 -1,290 36,479
EUC 20083 3,629,604 3,756,990 -127,386 5,795,648
Extended Benefits4 873,002 830,837 +42,165 208,041
State Additional Benefits 5 7,640 7,282 +358 2,013
STC / Workshare 6 58,991 53,366 +5,625 89,902
TOTAL 9,250,156 9,358,624 -108,468 11,820,222
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 02/05/2011 

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
FL -4,542 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries, and agriculture.
TX -3,657 Drop in claims caused by inclement weather throughout the state, as well as fewer layoffs in the insurance, real estate, trade, service, and manufacturing industries.
SC -2,780 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
TN -2,535 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries.
GA -1,784 Fewer layoffs in the service and manufacturing industries.
NY -1,718 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and transportation industries.
IL -1,713 No comment.
CA -1,694 No comment.
IN -1,501 Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry.
WI -1,336 No comment.
MO -1,259 Fewer layoffs in the trade and service industries.
LA -1,139 No comment.
IA -1,061 No comment.
MA -1,027 Fewer layoffs in the construction industry.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
NC +1,222 Layoffs in the construction and furniture industries.
MI +2,693 No comment.

State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current

 

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