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 08-712-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. (EDT), THURSDAY |
| Media Contact : | May 29, 2008 |
| (202) 693-4676 | |
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending May 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial
claims was 372,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised
figure of 368,000. The 4-week moving average was 370,500, a decrease of 2,500
from the previous week's revised average of 373,000.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.3 percent for the week ending May 17, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.3 percent.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending May 17 was 3,104,000, an increase of 36,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,068,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,069,250, an increase of 18,500 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,050,750.
The fiscal year-to-date average for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment for all programs is 2.873 million.
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 323,971 in the week ending May 24, an increase of 4,430 from the previous week. There were 273,397 initial claims in the comparable week in 2007.UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.1 percent during the
week ending May 17, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number
for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 2,803,105, a decrease
of 44,404 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 1.7 percent and
the volume was 2,231,139.
Extended benefits were not available in any state during the week ending May 10.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 966 in the week ending May 17, an increase of 190 from the prior week. There were 1,372 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 85 from the preceding week.
There were 11,510 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending May 10, an increase of 339 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 20,257, a decrease of 28 from the prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending May 10 were in Puerto Rico (4.1 percent), Alaska (3.8), Michigan (3.6), California (3.2), Oregon (3.1), Pennsylvania (3.0), Rhode Island (2.9), New Jersey (2.8), Nevada (2.7), and Wisconsin (2.6).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending May 17 were in Pennsylvania (+1,695), Missouri (+1,192), South Carolina (+1,045), Indiana (+919), and Kentucky (+811), while the largest decreases were in Michigan (-3,898), North Carolina (-2,610), Georgia (-1,537), New York (-1,421), and Louisiana (-1,333).
| Advance | Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING | May 24 | May 17 | Change | May 10 | Year |
| Initial Claims (SA) | 372,000 | 368,000 | +4,000 | 374,000 | 310,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Claims (NSA) | 323,971 | 319,541 | +4,430 | 325,480 | 273,397 |
| 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) | 370,500 | 373,000 | -2,500 | 367,250 | 305,000 |
| Advance | Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING | May 17 | May 10 | Change | May 3 | Year |
| Ins. Unemployment (SA) | 3,104,000 | 3,068,000 | +36,000 | 3,073,000 | 2,485,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ins. Unemployment (NSA) | 2,803,105 | 2,847,509 | -44,404 | 2,845,952 | 2,231,139 |
| 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) | 3,069,250 | 3,050,750 | +18,500 | 3,020,250 | 2,504,500 |
| Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 | 2.3% | 2.3% | 0.0 | 2.3% | 1.9% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ins. Unemployment Rate
(NSA)2 |
2.1% | 2.1% | 0.0 | 2.1% | 1.7% |
|
Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING |
May 17 |
May 10 |
Change |
Year |
| Federal Employees | 966 | 776 | +190 | 884 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newly Discharged Veterans | 1,372 | 1,457 | -85 | 1,571 |
|
Prior1 | ||||
| WEEK ENDING |
May 10 |
May 3 |
Change |
Year |
| Federal Employees | 11,510 | 11,171 | +339 | 11,965 |
| Newly Discharged Veterans | 20,257 | 20,285 | -28 | 21,806 |
| Railroad Retirement Board | 2,000 | 2,000 | 0 | 2,000 |
| Extended Benefits | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 05/17/2008
| State | Change | State Supplied Comment | |
| MI | -3,898 | Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry. | |
| NC | -2,610 | Fewer layoffs in the transportation equipment, construction, textile, leather goods, and fabricated metals industries. | |
| GA | -1,537 | Fewer layoffs in the textile and manufacturing industries. | |
| NY | -1,421 | Fewer layoffs in the construction and transportation industries. | |
| LA | -1,333 | No comment. |
| State | Change | State Supplied Comment | |
| SC | +1,045 | Layoffs in the manufacturing industry. | |
| MO | +1,192 | Layoffs in the construction and service industries. | |
| PA | +1,695 | Layoffs in the petroleum, primary metals, furniture, and service industries. |
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