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News Release

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Oct. 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 457,000, an increase of 20,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 437,000. The 4-week moving average was 456,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised average of 454,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.4 percent for the week ending Oct. 23, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.5 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Oct. 23 was 4,340,000, a decrease of 42,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 4,382,000. The 4-week moving average was 4,410,750, a decrease of 42,750 from the preceding week's revised average of 4,453,500.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 419,351 in the week ending Oct. 30, an increase of 10,881 from the previous week. There were 482,612 initial claims in the comparable week in 2009.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent during the week ending Oct. 23, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,719,209, a decrease of 45,084 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.7 percent and the volume was 4,932,036.

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 Oct. 16.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 3,802 in the week ending Oct. 23, a decrease of 1,638 from the prior week. There were 2,593 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 5 from the preceding week.

There were 45,159 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Oct. 16, an increase of 7,853 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 58,829, an increase of 17,143 from the prior week.

States reported 3,978,374 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending Oct. 16, an increase of 198,579 from the prior week. There were 3,496,960 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 Oct. 16 were in Puerto Rico (5.8 percent), Alaska (5.0), California (4.1), Oregon (4.1), Pennsylvania (4.1), New Jersey (3.9), Nevada (3.7), Connecticut (3.6), Wisconsin (3.6), Arkansas (3.5), and South Carolina (3.5).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Oct. 23 were in California (+3,755), Illinois (+3,710), Pennsylvania (+2,256), Georgia (+1,593), and Michigan (+1,480), while the largest decreases were in Kentucky (-1,699), Florida (-1,615), Puerto Rico (-1,153), Indiana (-1,095), and Alabama (-1,087).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS

Advance

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Oct. 30

Oct. 23

Change

Oct. 16

Year

Initial Claims (SA)

457,000

437,000

+20,000

455,000

522,000

Initial Claims (NSA)

419,351

408,470

+10,881

394,016

482,612

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

456,000

454,000

+2,000

458,750

526,500

Advance

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Oct. 23

Oct. 16

Change

Oct. 9

Year

Ins. Unemployment (SA)

4,340,000

4,382,000

-42,000

4,477,000

5,748,000

Ins. Unemployment (NSA)

3,719,209

3,764,293

-45,084

3,715,958

4,932,036

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

4,410,750

4,453,500

-42,750

4,485,500

5,848,250

Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2

3.4%

3.5%

-0.1

3.6%

4.4%

Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2

3.0%

3.0%

0.0

3.0%

3.7%

INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Oct. 23

Oct. 16

Change

Year

Federal Employees

3,802

5,440

-1,638

2,106

Newly Discharged Veterans

2,593

2,598

-5

2,551

PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Oct. 16

Oct. 9

Change

Year

Federal Employees

45,159

37,306

+7,853

21,697

Newly Discharged Veterans

58,829

41,686

+17,143

33,938

Railroad Retirement Board

3,000

3,000

0

10,000

Extended Benefits

1,034,703

875,569

+159,134

591,682

EUC 20083

3,978,374

3,779,795

+198,579

3,496,960

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 10/23/2010

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

KY

-1,699

No comment.

FL

-1,615

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

PR

-1,153

No comment.

IN

-1,095

Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry.

AL

-1,087

Fewer layoffs in the service and furniture industries.

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

SC

+1,258

Layoffs in the industrial machinery industry.

NJ

+1,305

Return to a five day workweek, as well as layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries.

MA

+1,473

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

MI

+1,480

No comment.

GA

+1,593

Layoffs in the trade and service industries.

PA

+2,256

Layoffs in the trade and service industries.

IL

+3,710

No comment.

CA

+3,755

Layoffs in forestry, fishing, and agriculture.

State Detail Prior WeekUI Claims Series 1967 to current

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Agency
Employment and Training Administration
Date
November 4, 2010