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News Release

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending November 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 402,000, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 396,000. The 4-week moving average was 395,750, an increase of 500 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 November 19, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending November 19 was 3,740,000, an increase of 35,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,705,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,683,250, an increase of 8,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,675,000.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 370,616 in the week ending November 26, a decrease of 69,665 from the previous week. There were 412,922 initial claims in the comparable week in 2010.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent during the week ending November 19, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,152,577, a decrease of 222,737 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.9 percent and the volume was 3,665,787.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending November 12 was 7,005,495, an increase of 276,832 from the previous week.

Extended benefits were available in Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin during the week ending November 12.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 2,353 in the week ending November 19, a decrease of 77 from the prior week. There were 2,774 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 375 from the preceding week.

There were 29,820 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending November 12, an increase of 1,498 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 43,018, an increase of 2,869 from the prior week.

States reported 2,972,894 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending November 12, an increase of 76,254 from the prior week. There were 3,944,168 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 November 12 were in Alaska (5.8), Puerto Rico (4.4), Oregon (3.9), California (3.7), Pennsylvania (3.7), New Jersey (3.6),Connecticut (3.5), Nevada (3.4), Arkansas (3.2), and South Carolina (3.2).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending November 19 were in California (+19,220), Pennsylvania (+6,596), New York (+5,284), Washington (+3,791), and Florida (+3,412) while the largest decreases were in Michigan (-1,881), Indiana (-1,474), Puerto Rico (-707), Maine (-197), and New Jersey (-128).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS

WEEK ENDING

Advance Nov. 26

Nov. 19

Change

Nov. 12

Prior Year1

Initial Claims (SA)

402,000

396,000

+6,000

392,000

439,000

Initial Claims (NSA)

370,616

440,281

-69,665

363,016

412,922

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

395,750

395,250

+500

397,750

433,000

WEEK ENDING

Advance Nov. 19

Nov. 12

Change

Nov. 5

Prior Year1

Ins. Unemployment (SA)

3,740,000

3,705,000

+35,000

3,623,000

4,272,000

Ins. Unemployment (NSA)

3,152,577

3,375,314

-222,737

3,177,477

3,665,787

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

3,683,250

3,675,000

+8,250

3,673,750

4,270,500

Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2

3.0%

2.9%

+0.1

2.9%

3.4%

Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2

2.5%

2.7%

-0.2

2.5%

2.9%

INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

WEEK ENDING

Nov. 19

Nov. 12

Change

Prior Year1

Federal Employees

2,353

2,430

-77

3,132

Newly Discharged Veterans

2,774

2,399

+375

2,555

PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN ALL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

WEEK ENDING

Nov. 12

Nov. 5

Change

Prior Year1

Regular State

3,365,056

3,168,697

+196,359

3,854,854

Federal Employees (UCFE)

29,820

28,322

+1,498

48,900

Newly Discharged Veterans (UCX)

43,018

40,149

+2,869

42,647

EUC 20083

2,972,894

2,896,640

+76,254

3,944,168

Extended Benefits4

548,549

555,256

-6,707

955,928

State Additional Benefits 5

4,628

4,646

-18

4,617

STC / Workshare 6

41,530

34,953

+6,577

58,851

TOTAL

7,005,495

6,728,663

+276,832

8,909,965

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 126,188,733 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 paid, 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 11/12/2011

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

MI

-1,881

Decline in management of companies and enterprises.

IN

-1,474

No comment.

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

CA

+19,220

Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.

PA

+6,596

Layoffs in the construction and service industries.

NY

+5,284

Layoffs in the transportation, education services, and construction industries.

WA

+3,791

Layoffs in the manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, mining, utilities, construction, and transportation industries.

FL

+3,412

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

KY

+3,132

No comment.

TX

+3,101

Increase due to holiday.

IL

+3,082

Layoffs in the construction and service industries.

SC

+3,059

Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.

CT

+2,716

No comment.

OH

+2,618

Layoffs in the manufacturing and construction industries.

MO

+2,077

Layoffs in the manufacturing and construction industries.

AR

+1,855

No comment.

AZ

+1,535

No comment.

NC

+1,510

Layoffs in the service and construction industries, and nonclassified establishments.

OR

+1,474

Increase in claims from seasonal industries.

VA

+1,382

No comment.

LA

+1,337

No comment.

MA

+1,317

Layoffs in the manufacturing, service, and construction industries.

MD

+1,085

No comment.

AK

+1,014

No comment.

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
December 1, 2011