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News Release

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Jan. 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 444,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 433,000. The 4-week moving average was 440,750, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised average of 449,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.5 percent for the week ending Jan. 2, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.6 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Jan. 2 was 4,596,000, a decrease of 211,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 4,807,000. The 4-week moving average was 4,855,000, a decrease of 151,500 from the preceding week's revised average of 5,006,500.

The fiscal year-to-date average for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment for all programs is 5.448 million.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 801,086 in the week ending Jan. 9, an increase of 156,165 from the previous week. There were 956,791 initial claims in the comparable week in 2009.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.6 percent during the week ending Jan. 2, an increase of 0.4 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 5,988,940, an increase of 503,924 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 4.4 percent and the volume was 5,855,855.

Extended benefits were available in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin during the week ending Dec. 26.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,466 in the week ending Jan. 2, a decrease of 187 from the prior week. There were 1,454 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 73 from the preceding week.

There were 25,959 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Dec. 26, an increase of 193 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 36,116, an increase of 1,742 from the prior week.

States reported 5,002,180 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending Dec. 26, a decrease of 141,279 from the prior week. There were 1,666,412 claimants in the comparable week in 2008. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Dec. 26 were in Alaska (7.4 percent), Oregon (6.6), Idaho (6.2), Wisconsin (6.2), Michigan (5.9), Montana (5.7), Nevada (5.7), North Carolina (5.6), Pennsylvania (5.5), and Washington (5.4).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Jan. 2 were in New York (+22,810), North Carolina (+20,942), Georgia (+11,172), Wisconsin (+9,938), and Alabama (+5,748), while the largest decreases were in Illinois (-6,928), Florida (-6,523), Kansas (-3,701), Maryland (-2,309), and California (-2,284).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS

Advance

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Jan. 9

Jan. 2

Change

Dec. 26

Year

Initial Claims (SA)

444,000

433,000

+11,000

432,000

535,000

Initial Claims (NSA)

801,086

644,921

+156,165

556,517

956,791

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

440,750

449,750

-9,000

460,250

523,750

Advance

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Jan. 2

Dec. 26

Change

Dec. 19

Year

Ins. Unemployment (SA)

4,596,000

4,807,000

-211,000

4,979,000

4,487,000

Ins. Unemployment (NSA)

5,988,940

5,485,016

+503,924

5,088,864

5,855,855

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

4,855,000

5,006,500

-151,500

5,100,500

4,454,250

Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2

3.5%

3.6%

-0.1

3.8%

3.4%

Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2

4.6%

4.2%

+0.4

3.9%

4.4%

INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Jan. 2

Dec. 26

Change

Year

Federal Employees

1,466

1,653

-187

1,434

Newly Discharged Veterans

1,454

1,381

+73

1,543

PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Dec. 26

Dec. 19

Change

Year

Federal Employees

25,959

25,766

+193

19,710

Newly Discharged Veterans

36,116

34,374

+1,742

25,937

Railroad Retirement Board

10,000

10,000

0

7,000

Extended Benefits

302,272

296,580

+5,692

1,640

EUC 20083

5,002,180

5,143,459

-141,279

1,666,412

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 130,128,328 as denominator. 3 - EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.

UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 01/02/2010

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

IL

-6,928

Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and manufacturing industries.

FL

-6,523

Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries, and agriculture.

KS

-3,701

No comment.

MD

-2,309

No comment.

CA

-2,284

Fewer layoffs in the construction and service industries.

NV

-1,113

Decrease due to a shorter workweek.

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

MA

+1,166

Layoffs in the transportation, warehousing, and manufacturing industries.

AR

+1,779

Layoffs in the trade, service, and manufacturing industries.

IA

+1,871

Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.

MN

+2,142

No comment.

MI

+2,166

No comment.

NJ

+2,477

Layoffs in the transportation, warehousing, trade, service, public administration, and manufacturing industries.

OR

+2,939

No comment.

OH

+3,032

Increase due to holiday shutdowns.

SC

+3,414

Layoffs in the textile industry.

TX

+3,474

Layoffs in the trade, service, transportation, and manufacturing industries.

CT

+3,895

No comment.

TN

+4,609

Layoffs in the service and manufacturing industries.

PA

+5,427

Layoffs in the transportation, primary metals, and industrial machinery industries.

AL

+5,748

Increase due to seasonal shutdowns , as well as layoffs in the apparel and service industries.

WI

+9,938

Layoffs in the construction, trade, service, transportation, warehousing, and manufacturing industries.

GA

+11,172

Layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries.

NC

+20,942

Layoffs in the construction, transportation equipment, textile, furniture, rubber/plastics, and lumber/wood industries.

NY

+22,810

Layoffs in the construction, service, and transportation industries. Figures are based on a five day processing week.

State Detail Prior WeekUI Claims Series 1967 to current

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Agency
Employment and Training Administration
Date
January 14, 2010