EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
ADMINISTRATION |
USDL 08-402-NAT |
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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 : |
March 27, 2008 |
(202) 693-4676 |
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Note: This week's release reflects the annual revision to
the weekly unemployment claims seasonal adjustment factors. The historical factors
from 2003 forward have been revised. The calendar year 2008 factors can be accessed
at the following link: http://www.ows.doleta.gov/press/2008/032708.asp
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending March 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial
claims was 366,000, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised
figure of 375,000. The 4-week moving average was 358,000, an increase of 1,750
from the previous week's revised average of 356,250.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.1 percent
for the week ending March 15, unchanged from the prior
week's revised rate of 2.1 percent.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during
the week ending March 15 was 2,845,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the preceding
week's revised level of 2,850,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,824,250,
an increase of 25,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 2,799,000.
UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted,
totaled 312,867 in the week ending March 22, a decrease of 22,827 from the previous
week. There were 273,432 initial claims in the comparable week in 2007.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.4 percent during the
week ending March 15, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted
number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,246,517,
a decrease of 34,209 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.2
percent and the volume was 2,826,536.
Extended benefits were not available in any state during the week ending March 8.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 831 in the week ending March 15, a decrease of 31 from the prior week. There were 1,419 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 165 from the preceding week.
There were 14,534 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending March 8, a decrease of 2,073 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 22,312, a decrease of 247 from the prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending March 8 were in Alaska (4.5 percent), Michigan (4.2), Rhode Island (4.0), Idaho (3.7), Pennsylvania (3.7), Wisconsin (3.7), New Jersey (3.5), Oregon (3.5), Vermont (3.5), California (3.3), and Massachusetts (3.3).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending March 15 were in Michigan (+6,700), Ohio (+5,486), Missouri (+3,235), North Carolina (+2,586), and Texas (+2,175), while the largest decreases were in California (-5,016), New York (-2,138), Wisconsin (-2,005), Georgia (-1,862), and Florida
(-1,651).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
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Advance |
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Prior1 |
WEEK ENDING |
March 22 |
March 15 |
Change |
March 8 |
Year |
Initial Claims (SA) |
366,000 |
375,000 |
-9,000 |
347,000 |
306,000 |
Initial Claims
(NSA) |
312,867 |
335,694 |
-22,827 |
341,233 |
273,432 |
4-Wk Moving Average
(SA) |
358,000 |
356,250 |
+1,750 |
348,000 |
312,000 |
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Advance |
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Prior1 |
WEEK ENDING |
March 15 |
March 8 |
Change |
March 1 |
Year |
Ins. Unemployment
(SA) |
2,845,000 |
2,850,000 |
-5,000 |
2,794,000 |
2,499,000 |
Ins. Unemployment
(NSA) |
3,246,517 |
3,280,726 |
-34,209 |
3,341,108 |
2,826,536 |
4-Wk Moving Average
(SA) |
2,824,250 |
2,799,000 |
+25,250 |
2,780,000 |
2,509,500 |
Ins. Unemployment
Rate (SA)2 |
2.1% |
2.1% |
0.0 |
2.1% |
1.9% |
Ins. Unemployment Rate
(NSA)2
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2.4% |
2.5% |
-0.1 |
2.5% |
2.2% |
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Federal Employees |
831 |
862 |
-31 |
848 |
Newly Discharged Veterans |
1,419 |
1,584 |
-165 |
1,605 |
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS
(UNADJUSTED)
Federal Employees |
14,534 |
16,607 |
-2,073 |
14,423 |
Newly Discharged Veterans |
22,312 |
22,559 |
-247 |
23,712 |
Railroad Retirement Board |
4,000 |
4,000 |
0 |
3,000 |
Extended Benefits |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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.
UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 03/15/2008
STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State |
Change |
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State Supplied Comment |
CA |
-5,016 |
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Fewer layoffs in the trade and service industries. |
NY |
-2,138 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and transportation
industries. |
WI |
-2,005 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction, transportation, warehousing,
and manufacturing industries. |
GA |
-1,862 |
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Fewer layoffs in the textile industry. |
FL |
-1,651 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing
industries. |
IL |
-1,586 |
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Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and manufacturing
industries. |
AR |
-1,048 |
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No comment. |
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State |
Change |
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State Supplied Comment |
TX |
+2,175 |
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Layoffs in the service and manufacturing industries. |
NC |
+2,586 |
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Layoffs in the trade, transportation equipment, furniture,
and textile industries. |
MO |
+3,235 |
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Layoffs in the automobile industry. |
OH |
+5,486 |
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Layoffs in the automobile industry. |
MI |
+6,700 |
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Layoffs in the automobile industry. |
State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current
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