News Release
  
U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 08-571-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 1, 2008
(202) 693-4676  
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

          SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA

In the week ending April 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 380,000, an increase of 35,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 345,000. The 4-week moving average was 363,750, a decrease of 6,500 from the previous week's revised average of 370,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.3 percent for the week ending April 19, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.2 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending April 19 was 3,019,000, an increase of 74,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 2,945,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,979,000, an increase of 16,750 from the preceding week's revised average of 2,962,250.  

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 336,344 in the week ending April 26, an increase of 8,158 from the previous week. There were 267,672 initial claims in the comparable week in 2007.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.2 percent during the week ending April 19, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 2,976,512, a decrease of 77,579 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 1.9 percent and the volume was 2,448,102.

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Extended benefits were not available in any state during the week ending April 12.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 908 in the week ending April 19, a decrease of 113 from the prior week. There were 1,410 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 73 from the preceding week.

There were 13,297 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending April 12, an increase of 691 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 20,997, a decrease of 591 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending April 12 were in Michigan (4.4 percent), Alaska (4.3), Oregon (3.3), Pennsylvania (3.3), Rhode Island (3.3), Wisconsin (3.3), California (3.2), Vermont (3.2), New Jersey (3.1), and Puerto Rico (3.1).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending April 19 were in Connecticut (+2,886), Texas (+1,937), Rhode Island (+1,779), Vermont (+336), and South Carolina (+302), while the largest decreases were in Michigan (-8,102), California (-5,130), North Carolina (-4,704), Florida (-3,278), and Pennsylvania (-2,644).

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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING April 26 April 19 Change April 12 Year
Initial Claims (SA) 380,000 345,000 +35,000 375,000 309,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 336,344 328,186 +8,158 370,949 267,672
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 363,750 370,250 -6,500 376,750 321,500
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING April 19 April 12 Change April 5 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,019,000 2,945,000 +74,000 2,999,000 2,498,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 2,976,512 3,054,091 -77,579 3,088,902 2,448,102
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 2,979,000 2,962,250 +16,750 2,939,000 2,520,000
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.3% 2.2% +0.1 2.2% 1.9%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2
 2.2% 2.3% -0.1 2.3% 1.9%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
April 19
April 12
Change
Year
Federal Employees 908 1,021 -113 861
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,410 1,483 -73 1,486
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
April 12
April 5
Change
Year
Federal Employees 13,297 12,606 +691 15,011
Newly Discharged Veterans 20,997 21,588 -591 23,077
Railroad Retirement Board 3,000 3,000 0 2,000
Extended Benefits 0 0 0 7
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 133,382,559 as denominator.
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UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 04/19/2008 

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
MI -8,102 Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry.
CA -5,130 Fewer layoffs in fishing, forestry, and agriculture.
NC -4,704 Fewer layoffs in the construction, transportation, and furniture industries.
FL -3,278 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries, and agriculture.
PA -2,644 No comment.
IN -2,276 No comment.
WI -2,241 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries.
GA -2,132 Fewer layoffs in the textile industry.
NY -1,620 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries.
PR -1,339 No comment.
OH -1,233 No comment.
IL -1,177 Fewer layoffs in the trade, service, and manufacturing industries.
MO -1,128 Fewer layoffs in the construction industry.
AZ -1,099 No comment.
TN -1,095 Fewer layoffs in the construction, service, transportation equipment, fabricated metals, and apparel industries.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
RI +1,779 Layoffs in the transportation and service industries.
TX +1,937 Layoffs in the trade, service, transportation, and manufacturing industries.
CT +2,886 Layoffs in the transportation and service industries.

State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current


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