News Release
  
U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 08-147-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 7, 2008
(202) 693-4676  
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

          SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA

In the week ending Feb. 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 356,000, a decrease of 22,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 378,000. The 4-week moving average was 335,000, an increase of 8,500 from the previous week's revised average of 326,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.1 percent for the week ending Jan. 26, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.0 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Jan. 26 was 2,785,000, an increase of 75,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 2,710,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,727,750, an increase of 24,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 2,703,500.  

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 379,507 in the week ending Feb. 2, an increase of 9,563 from the previous week. There were 339,018 initial claims in the comparable week in 2007.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent during the week ending Jan. 26, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,349,982, an increase of 100,408 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.3 percent and the volume was 2,981,310.

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Extended benefits were not available in any state during the week ending Jan. 19.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,171 in the week ending Jan. 26, a decrease of 369 from the prior week. There were 1,375 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 365 from the preceding week.

There were 19,277 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Jan. 19, an increase of 1,406 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 23,469, a decrease of 832 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Jan. 19 were in Alaska (5.2 percent), Michigan (4.6), Rhode Island (4.1), Pennsylvania (3.8), Idaho (3.7), Wisconsin (3.7), Massachusetts (3.4), New Jersey (3.4), Oregon (3.4), and Montana (3.3).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Jan. 26 were in Wisconsin (+2,335), North Carolina (+715), Maryland (+504), Virginia (+340), and California (+233), while the largest decreases were in Michigan (-7,546), Illinois (-4,483), Florida (-4,127), Ohio (-3,038), and Texas (-2,887).

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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Feb. 2 Jan. 26 Change Jan. 19 Year
Initial Claims (SA) 356,000 378,000 -22,000 306,000 314,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 379,507 369,944 +9,563 415,149 339,018
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 335,000 326,500 +8,500 315,500 311,500
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Jan. 26 Jan. 19 Change Jan. 12 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 2,785,000 2,710,000 +75,000 2,669,000 2,468,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 3,349,982 3,249,574 +100,408 3,272,000 2,981,310
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 2,727,750 2,703,500 +24,250 2,714,500 2,479,500
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.1% 2.0% +0.1 2.0% 1.9%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2
 2.5% 2.4% +0.1 2.5% 2.3%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
Jan. 26
Jan. 19
Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,171 1,540 -369 1,538
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,375 1,740 -365 1,936
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
Jan. 19
Jan. 12
Change
Year
Federal Employees 19,277 17,871 +1,406 21,383
Newly Discharged Veterans 23,469 24,301 -832 26,007
Railroad Retirement Board 4,000 4,000 0 4,000
Extended Benefits 0 1 -1 1
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 133,010,953 as denominator.
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UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 01/26/2008 

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
MI -7,546 Fewer layoffs in all industries.
IL -4,483 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and manufacturing industries.
FL -4,127 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries, and agriculture.
OH -3,038 No comment.
TX -2,887 Fewer layoffs in the trade and manufacturing industries.
AL -2,645 Fewer layoffs in the transportation equipment and wood products industries.
TN -2,498 Fewer layoffs in the apparel, fabricated metals, wood products, construction, and service industries.
NY -1,995 Fewer layoffs in the service and manufacturing industries.
IN -1,755 Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry.
LA -1,665 No comment.
GA -1,645 Fewer layoffs in the carpets/rugs and manufacturing industries.
PA -1,372 Fewer layoffs in the printing/publishing, leather goods, and real estate industries, and agriculture.
CT -1,077 No comment.
OR -1,006 No comment.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
WI +2,335 Layoffs in the construction, trade, transportation, warehousing, and manufacturing industries.

State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current

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