Please note: As of January 20, 2021, information in some news releases may be out of date or not reflect current policies.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 March 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 351,000, a decrease of 14,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 365,000. The 4-week moving average was 355,750, unchanged from the previous week's revised average of 355,750.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending March 3, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.7 percent.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Mach 3, was 3,343,000, a decrease of 81,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,424,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,394,250, a decrease of 25,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,419,500.
UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 337,713 in the week ending March 10, a decrease of 30,719 from the previous week. There were 371,721 initial claims in the comparable week in 2011.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent during the week ending March 3, a decrease of 0.2 percentage point from the prior week's revised rate of 3.2 percent. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,841,622, a decrease of 147,268 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.4 percent and the volume was 4,296,805.
The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending February 25 was 7,424,040, an increase of 36,392 from the previous week.
Extended benefits were available in Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin during the week ending February 25.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,302 in the week ending March 3, an increase of 166 from the prior week. There were 2,713 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 427 from the preceding week.
There were 27,457 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending February 25, an increase of 307 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 42,049, an increase of 455 from the prior week.
States reported 2,875,795 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending February 25, a decrease of 53,415 from the prior week. There were 3,541,942 claimants in the comparable week in 2011. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending February 25 were in Alaska (6.2), Rhode Island (5.0), Pennsylvania (4.8), Montana (4.6), Idaho (4.4), New Jersey (4.4), Oregon (4.4), Wisconsin (4.4), Connecticut (4.3), and Puerto Rico (4.3).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending March 3 were in New York (+16,478), California (+4,320), Pennsylvania (+2,859), Texas (+2,116), and Virginia (+1,554), while the largest decreases were in Massachusetts (-2,974), Rhode Island (-1,071), New Jersey (-1,034), Puerto Rico (-562), and Kentucky (-284).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
WEEK ENDING | Advance March 10 | March 3 | Change | Feb. 25 | Prior Year1 |
|---|
Initial Claims (SA) | 351,000 | 365,000 | -14,000 | 354,000 | 390,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initial Claims (NSA) | 337,713 | 368,432 | -30,719 | 334,241 | 371,721 |
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) | 355,750 | 355,750 | 0 | 354,750 | 388,500 |
WEEK ENDING | Advance March 3 | Feb. 25 | Change | Feb. 18 | Prior Year1 |
|---|
Ins. Unemployment (SA) | 3,343,000 | 3,424,000 | -81,000 | 3,406,000 | 3,763,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) | 3,841,622 | 3,988,890 | -147,268 | 3,882,525 | 4,296,805 |
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) | 3,394,250 | 3,419,500 | -25,250 | 3,445,000 | 3,819,750 |
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 | 2.6% | 2.7% | -0.1 | 2.7% | 3.0% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 | 3.0% | 3.2% | -0.2 | 3.1% | 3.4% |
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
WEEK ENDING | March 3 | Feb. 25 | Change | Prior Year1 |
|---|
Federal Employees | 1,302 | 1,136 | +166 | 1,927 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Newly Discharged Veterans | 2,713 | 2,286 | +427 | 2,495 |
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN ALL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
WEEK ENDING | February 25 | February 18 | Change | Prior Year1 |
Regular State | 3,977,892 | 3,873,355 | +104,537 | 4,445,578 |
Federal Employees (UCFE) | 27,457 | 27,150 | +307 | 43,694 |
Newly Discharged Veterans (UCX) | 42,049 | 41,594 | +455 | 40,111 |
EUC 20083 | 2,875,795 | 2,929,210 | -53,415 | 3,541,942 |
Extended Benefits4 | 453,300 | 473,762 | -20,462 | 815,191 |
State Additional Benefits 5 | 4,770 | 6,960 | -2,190 | 8,286 |
STC / Workshare 6 | 42,777 | 35,617 | +7,160 | 58,630 |
TOTAL | 7,424,040 | 7,387,648 | +36,392 | 8,953,432 |
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 126,579,970 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 03/03/2012
STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State | Change |
| State Supplied Comment |
MA | -2,974 |
| Fewer layoffs in the school bus transportation and food service industries. |
RI | -1,071 |
| Fewer layoffs in the business service and manufacturing industries. |
NJ | -1,034 |
| Fewer layoffs in the retail, accommodation and food service, and manufacturing industries. |
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State | Change |
| State Supplied Comment |
NY | +16,478 |
| Layoffs in the transportation, educational service, and food service industries. |
CA | +4,320 |
| Layoffs in the service industry. |
PA | +2,859 |
| Layoffs in the food service, entertainment, lodging, professional, scientific and technology service, and healthcare industries. |
TX | +2,116 |
| No comment. |
VA | +1,554 |
| Layoffs in the manufacturing industry. |
IL | +1,300 |
| Layoffs in the construction, administrative support service, and trade industries. |
OR | +1,026 |
| 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/