Please note: As of January 20, 2021, information in some news releases may be out of date or not reflect current policies.

News Release

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Oct. 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 462,000, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 449,000. The 4-week moving average was 459,000, an increase of 2,250 from the previous week's revised average of 456,750.

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

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Oct. 2 was 4,399,000, a decrease of 112,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 4,511,000. The 4-week moving average was 4,488,500, a decrease of 34,500 from the preceding week's revised average of 4,523,000.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 449,568 in the week ending Oct. 9, an increase of 75,914 from the previous week. There were 508,659 initial claims in the comparable week in 2009.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent during the week ending Oct. 2, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,668,851, a decrease of 111,184 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.8 percent and the volume was 4,953,947.

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 Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin during the week ending Sept. 25.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 4,844 in the week ending Oct. 2, an increase of 1,247 from the prior week. There were 2,694 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 150 from the preceding week.

There were 32,023 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Sept. 25, an increase of 2,343 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 41,940, an increase of 1,167 from the prior week.

States reported 3,888,001 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending Sept. 25, a decrease of 235,512 from the prior week. There were 3,387,838 claimants in the comparable week in 2009. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Sept. 25 were in Puerto Rico (6.3 percent), Alaska (4.5), California (4.0), Nevada (4.0), Oregon (4.0), Pennsylvania (4.0), New Jersey (3.9), Connecticut (3.6), Illinois (3.6), and South Carolina (3.5).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Oct. 2 were in Pennsylvania (+2,869), New Jersey (+2,132), Georgia (+1,361), Indiana (+833), and Washington (+677), while the largest decreases were in California (-6,131), Florida (-5,357), Iowa (-817), Illinois (-746), and Puerto Rico (-578).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS

Advance

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Oct. 9

Oct. 2

Change

Sept. 25

Year

Initial Claims (SA)

462,000

449,000

+13,000

456,000

521,000

Initial Claims (NSA)

449,568

373,654

+75,914

372,536

508,659

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

459,000

456,750

+2,250

458,750

534,000

Advance

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Oct. 2.

Sept. 25

Change

Sept. 18

Year

Ins. Unemployment (SA)

4,399,000

4,511,000

-112,000

4,510,000

5,954,000

Ins. Unemployment (NSA)

3,668,851

3,780,035

-111,184

3,810,931

4,953,947

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

4,488,500

4,523,000

-34,500

4,538,500

6,004,500

Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2

3.5%

3.6%

-0.1

3.6%

4.5%

Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2

2.9%

3.0%

-0.1

3.0%

3.8%

INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Oct. 2

Sept. 25

Change

Year

Federal Employees

4,844

3,597

+1,247

1,911

Newly Discharged Veterans

2,694

2,844

-150

2,539

PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Sept. 25

Sept. 18

Change

Year

Federal Employees

32,023

29,680

+2,343

20,746

Newly Discharged Veterans

41,940

40,773

+1,167

31,967

Railroad Retirement Board

3,000

3,000

0

9,000

Extended Benefits

907,298

1,011,919

-104,621

648,967

EUC 20083

3,888,001

4,123,513

-235,512

3,387,838

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 125,845,577 as denominator. 3 - EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.

UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 10/02/2010

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

CA

-6,131

Fewer layoffs in the trade and service industries.

FL

-5,357

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

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

GA

+1,361

Layoffs in the service and manufacturing industries.

NJ

+2,132

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

PA

+2,869

Layoffs in the rubber/plastics, food, construction, and service industries.

State Detail Prior WeekUI Claims Series 1967 to current

This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-693-4676. TDD Message Phone: 1-800-326-2577. News releases from the U.S. Department of Labor are accessible on the Internet at: http://www.dol.gov/ and http://www.ows.doleta.gov/

Agency
Employment and Training Administration
Date
October 14, 2010