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News Release

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Oct. 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 514,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 524,000. The 4-week moving average was 531,500, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised average of 540,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.5 percent for the week ending Oct. 3, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's revised rate of 4.6 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Oct. 3 was 5,992,000, a decrease of 75,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 6,067,000. The 4-week moving average was 6,082,750, a decrease of 68,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 6,151,000.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 503,973 in the week ending Oct. 10, an increase of 51,919 from the previous week. There were 454,065 initial claims in the comparable week in 2008.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.7 percent during the week ending Oct. 3, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 4,919,556, a decrease of 97,504 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.3 percent and the volume was 3,073,515.

Extended benefits were available in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, 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 Sept. 26.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,891 in the week ending Oct. 3, an increase of 392 from the prior week. There were 2,498 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 112 from the preceding week.

There were 20,671 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Sept. 26, an increase of 1,148 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 31,840, an increase of 1,290 from the prior week.

States reported 3,331,275 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending Sept. 26, an increase of 10,065 from the prior week. There were 1,505,423 claimants in the comparable week in 2008. EUC weekly claims include both first and second tier activity.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Sept. 26 were in Puerto Rico (7.1 percent), Oregon (5.3), Nevada (5.2), Pennsylvania (5.0), California (4.7), Michigan (4.6), North Carolina (4.6), Wisconsin (4.6), Arkansas (4.5), and South Carolina (4.5).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Oct. 3 were in Pennsylvania (+3,618), Washington (+1,857), Wisconsin (+1,629), Missouri (+1,441), and Texas (+1,291), while the largest decreases were in Florida (-5,178), California (-3,911), Tennessee (-683), Illinois (-682), and Arkansas (-589).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS

Advance

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Oct. 10

Oct. 3

Change

Sept. 26

Year

Initial Claims (SA)

514,000

524,000

-10,000

554,000

469,000

Initial Claims (NSA)

503,973

452,054

+51,919

445,618

454,065

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

531,500

540,500

-9,000

548,750

480,500

Advance

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Oct. 3

Sept. 26

Change

Sept. 19

Year

Ins. Unemployment (SA)

5,992,000

6,067,000

-75,000

6,112,000

3,753,000

Ins. Unemployment (NSA)

4,919,556

5,017,060

-97,504

5,072,855

3,073,515

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

6,082,750

6,151,000

-68,250

6,160,000

3,668,250

Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2

4.5%

4.6%

-0.1

4.6%

2.8%

Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2

3.7%

3.8%

-0.1

3.8%

2.3%

INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Oct. 3

Sept. 26

Change

Year

Federal Employees

1,891

1,499

+392

1,644

Newly Discharged Veterans

2,498

2,386

+112

1,830

PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Sept. 26

Sept. 19

Change

Year

Federal Employees

20,671

19,523

+1,148

13,421

Newly Discharged Veterans

31,840

30,550

+1,290

22,744

Railroad Retirement Board

10,000

10,000

0

3,000

Extended Benefits

471,031

465,295

+5,736

1,616

EUC 20083

3,331,275

3,321,210

+10,065

1,505,423

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 131,823,421 as denominator. 3 - EUC weekly claims include both first and second tier activity.

UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 10/03/2009

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

FL

-5,178

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

CA

-3,911

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

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

MI

+1,129

No comment.

NY

+1,179

Layoffs in the construction, trade, and manufacturing industries.

TX

+1,291

Layoffs in the finance, service, and manufacturing industries.

MO

+1,441

Layoffs in the construction and manufacturing industries.

WI

+1,629

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

WA

+1,857

Layoffs in the construction and public administration industries.

PA

+3,618

Layoffs in the construction, primary metals, furniture, and food industries.

State Detail Prior WeekUI Claims Series 1967 to current

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Agency
Employment and Training Administration
Date
October 15, 2009