News Release |
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U.S. Department of Labor Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. | ||
| EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION | USDL 08-221-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 21, 2008 |
| (202) 693-4676 | |
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending Feb.16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial
claims was 349,000, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised
figure of 358,000. The 4-week moving average was 360,500, an increase of 10,750
from the previous week's revised average of 349,750.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.1 percent for the week ending Feb. 9, 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. 9 was 2,784,000, an increase of 48,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 2,736,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,752,500, an increase of 28,750 from the preceding week's revised average of 2,723,750.
UNADJUSTED DATAThe advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 320,488 in the week ending Feb. 16, a decrease of 56,851 from the previous week. There were 305,945 initial claims in the comparable week in 2007.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent during the
week ending Feb. 9, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number
for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,313,467, a decrease
of 13,743 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.3 percent
and the volume was 2,994,128.
Extended benefits were not available in any state during the week ending Feb. 2.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,102 in the week ending Feb. 9, an increase of 52 from the prior week. There were 1,572 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 13 from the preceding week.
There were 18,647 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Feb. 2, an increase of 933 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 23,387, a decrease of 621 from the prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Feb. 2 were in Alaska (5.2 percent), Michigan (4.4), Rhode Island (4.1), Idaho (4.0), Pennsylvania (4.0), Oregon (3.8), Wisconsin (3.8), Montana (3.5), New Jersey (3.5), and Massachusetts (3.4).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Feb. 9 were in California (+7,857), Kentucky (+4,166), Illinois (+1,955), Georgia (+1,009), and Massachusetts (+501), while the largest decreases were in Ohio (-2,752), Wisconsin (-2,232), North Carolina (-1,746), Pennsylvania (-1,608), and Florida (-1,410).
| Advance | Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING | Feb. 16 | Feb. 9 | Change | Feb. 2 | Year |
| Initial Claims (SA) | 349,000 | 358,000 | -9,000 | 357,000 | 333,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Claims (NSA) | 320,488 | 377,339 | -56,851 | 380,138 | 305,945 |
| 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) | 360,500 | 349,750 | +10,750 | 335,250 | 330,000 |
| Advance | Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING | Feb. 9 | Feb. 2 | Change | Jan. 26 | Year |
| Ins. Unemployment (SA) | 2,784,000 | 2,736,000 | +48,000 | 2,780,000 | 2,497,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ins. Unemployment (NSA) | 3,313,467 | 3,327,210 | -13,743 | 3,344,395 | 2,994,128 |
| 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) | 2,752,500 | 2,723,750 | +28,750 | 2,726,500 | 2,506,750 |
| Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0.0 | 2.1% | 1.9% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ins. Unemployment Rate
(NSA)2 |
2.5% | 2.5% | 0.0 | 2.5% | 2.3% |
|
Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING |
Feb. 9 |
Feb. 2 |
Change |
Year |
| Federal Employees | 1,102 | 1,050 | +52 | 1,247 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newly Discharged Veterans | 1,572 | 1,585 | -13 | 1,821 |
|
Prior1 | ||||
| WEEK ENDING |
Feb. 2 |
Jan. 26 |
Change |
Year |
| Federal Employees | 18,647 | 17,714 | +933 | 20,671 |
| Newly Discharged Veterans | 23,387 | 24,008 | -621 | 25,344 |
| Railroad Retirement Board | 4,000 | 4,000 | 0 | 4,000 |
| Extended Benefits | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 02/09/2008
| State | Change | State Supplied Comment | |
| OH | -2,752 | No comment. | |
| WI | -2,232 | Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and manufacturing industries. | |
| NC | -1,746 | Fewer layoffs in the construction, lumber/wood, stone/clay/glass, and fabricated metals industries. | |
| PA | -1,608 | Fewer layoffs in the primary metals, utilities, furniture, and transportation equipment industries. | |
| FL | -1,410 | Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries, and agriculture. | |
| AR | -1,405 | No comment. | |
| NY | -1,092 | Fewer layoffs in the construction and service industries. | |
| WA | -1,073 | Fewer layoffs in the construction, service, and manufacturing industries. |
| State | Change | State Supplied Comment | |
| GA | +1,009 | No comment. | |
| IL | +1,955 | Layoffs in the construction, service, and manufacturing industries. | |
| KY | +4,166 | Layoffs in the automobile and manufacturing industries. | |
| CA | +7,857 | Layoffs in the trade, service, and manufacturing industries. |
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request. Voice phone: 202-693-4676. TDD Message Phone: 1-800-326-2577.
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