Please note: As of January 20, 2021, information in some news releases may be out of date or not reflect current policies.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 April 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 382,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 392,000. The 4-week moving average was 389,500, a decrease of 5,750 from the previous week's revised average of 395,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent for the week ending March 26, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.0 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending March 26 was 3,723,000, a decrease of 9,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,732,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,745,750, a decrease of 24,000 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,769,750.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 350,667 in the week ending April 2, a decrease of 6,790 from the previous week. There were 421,130 initial claims in the comparable week in 2010.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.2 percent during the week ending March 26, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 4,069,327, a decrease of 61,739 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.9 percent and the volume was 5,055,002.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending March 19 was 8,524,455.

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, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, during the week ending March 19.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,487 in the week ending March 26, a decrease of 79 from the prior week. There were 2,306 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 196 from the preceding week.

There were 36,787 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending March 19, a decrease of 3,377 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 38,663, an increase of 12 from the prior week.

States reported 3,563,031 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending March 19, a decrease of 25,785 from the prior week. There were 5,590,944 claimants in the comparable week in 2010. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending March 19 were in Alaska (6.5 percent), Puerto Rico (4.9), Idaho (4.7), Oregon (4.7), Rhode Island (4.7), Pennsylvania (4.6), Wisconsin (4.6), Montana (4.5), Connecticut (4.4), New Jersey (4.4), and California (4.3).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending March 26 were in Texas (+3,866), California (+3,580), Oregon (2,785), New Jersey (+926), Arkansas (+873), while the largest decreases were in North Carolina (-3,137), Massachusetts (-2,251), Florida (-1,151), Georgia (-1,141), and Oklahoma (-689).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS

WEEK ENDING

Advance April 2

March 26

Change

March 19

Prior Year1

Initial Claims (SA)

382,000

392,000

-10,000

394,000

472,000

Initial Claims (NSA)

350,667

357,457

-6,790

354,457

421,130

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

389,500

395,250

-5,750

391,000

462,000

WEEK ENDING

Advance March 26

March 19

Change

March 12

Prior Year1

Ins. Unemployment (SA)

3,723,000

3,732,000

-9,000

3,765,000

4,629,000

Ins. Unemployment (NSA)

4,069,327

4,131,066

-61,739

4,277,092

5,055,002

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

3,745,750

3,769,750

-24,000

3,798,000

4,707,000

Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2

3.0%

3.0%

0

3.0%

3.6%

Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2

3.2%

3.3%

-0.1

3.4%

3.9%

INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

WEEK ENDING

March 26

March 19

Change

Prior Year1

Federal Employees

1,487

1,566

-79

1,219

Newly Discharged Veterans

2,306

2,110

+196

2,380

PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN ALL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

WEEK ENDING

March 19

March 12

Change

Prior Year1

Regular State

4,118,230

4,262,025

-143,795

5,186,920

Federal Employees (UCFE)

36,787

40,164

-3,377

21,260

Newly Discharged Veterans (UCX)

38,663

38,651

+12

37,027

EUC 20083

3,563,031

3,588,816

-25,785

5,590,944

Extended Benefits4

708,079

773,721

-65,642

148,031

State Additional Benefits 5

7,778

8,130

-352

2,001

STC / Workshare 6

51,887

58,936

-7,049

80,913

TOTAL

8,524,455

8,770,443

-245,988

11,067,096

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 125,560,066 as denominator. 3 - EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity. Tier-specific EUC data can be found here: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/docs/persons.xls4 - Information on the EB program can be found here: http://www.ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/extenben.asp 5 - Some states maintain additional benefit programs for those claimants who exhaust regular, extended and emergency benefits. Information on states that participate and the extent of benefits can be found starting on page 4-5 of this link: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2010/special.pdf 6 - Information on STC/Worksharing can be found starting on page 4-9 of the following link: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2010/special.pdf

UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 03/26/2011

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

NC

-3,137

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

MA

-2,251

No comment.

FL

-1,151

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

GA

-1,141

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

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

OR

+2,785

No comment.

CA

+3,580

Layoffs in the manufacturing industry, agriculture, forestry, and fishing.

TX

+3,866

Layoffs in the trade, service, and manufacturing 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
April 7, 2011