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News Release

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending June 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 427,000, an increase of 1,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 426,000. The 4-week moving average was 424,000, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average of 426,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent for the week ending May 28, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.0 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending May 28 was 3,676,000, a decrease of 71,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,747,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,719,250, a decrease of 29,000 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,748,250.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 364,507 in the week ending June 4, a decrease of 16,990 from the previous week. There were 398,864 initial claims in the comparable week in 2010.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.7 percent during the week ending May 28, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,407,607, a decrease of 102,900 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.3 percent and the volume was 4,202,202.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending May 21 was 7,601,344, a decrease of 89,233 from the previous week.

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, Washington, and West Virginia, during the week ending May 21.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 2,142 in the week ending May 28, an increase of 483 from the prior week. There were 2,316 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 99 from the preceding week.

There were 23,335 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending May 21, a decrease of 150 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 36,261, a decrease of 478 from the prior week.

States reported 3,372,090 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending May 21, a decrease of 45,515 from the prior week. There were 4,987,711 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 May 21 were in Alaska (5.0 percent), Puerto Rico (4.4), Oregon (4.0), California (3.9), Pennsylvania (3.9), Nevada (3.6), Connecticut (3.5), New Jersey (3.5), Illinois (3.3), and Rhode Island (3.3).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending May 28 were in New York (+3,187), Oregon (+1,508), Missouri (+1,158), Illinois (+1,081), Washington (+844), while the largest decreases were in California (-1,614), Wisconsin (-1,032), Massachusetts (-929), New Jersey(-882) and Texas (-659).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS

WEEK ENDING

Advance June 4

May 28

Change

May 21

Prior Year1

Initial Claims (SA)

427,000

426,000

+1,000

429,000

464,000

Initial Claims (NSA)

364,507

381,497

-16,990

376,252

398,864

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

424,000

426,750

-2,750

439,750

468,000

WEEK ENDING

Advance May 28

May 21

Change

May 14

Prior Year1

Ins. Unemployment (SA)

3,676,000

3,747,000

-71,000

3,718,000

4,523,000

Ins. Unemployment (NSA)

3,407,607

3,510,507

-102,900

3,546,842

4,202,202

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

3,719,250

3,748,250

-29,000

3,749,250

4,623,750

Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2

2.9%

3.0%

-0.1

3.0%

3.5%

Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2

2.7%

2.8%

-0.1

2.8%

3.3%

INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

WEEK ENDING

May 28

May 21

Change

Prior Year1

Federal Employees

2,142

1,659

483

2,010

Newly Discharged Veterans

2,316

2,415

-99

2,460

PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN ALL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

WEEK ENDING

May 21

May 14

Change

Prior Year1

Regular State

3,498,800

3,533,910

-35,110

4,361,636

Federal Employees (UCFE)

23,335

23,485

-150

17,236

Newly Discharged Veterans (UCX)

36,261

36,739

-478

37,248

EUC 20083

3,372,090

3,417,605

-45,515

4,987,711

Extended Benefits4

618,459

625,052

-6,593

445,494

State Additional Benefits 5

6,295

6,600

-305

5,368

STC / Workshare 6

46,104

47,186

-1,082

75,564

TOTAL

7,601,344

7,690,577

-89,233

9,930,257

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 125,572,661 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 05/28/2011

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

CA

-1,614

No comment.

WI

-1,032

No comment.

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

IL

+1,081

Layoffs in the construction, trade and service industries.

MO

+1,158

The figure reflected impact of tornadoes of the previous week. Also, layoffs in the construction and service industries.

OR

+1,508

No comment.

NY

+3,187

Layoffs in the construction, manufacturing and service industries.

State Detail Prior WeekUI Claims Series 1967 to current

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Agency
Employment and Training Administration
Date
June 9, 2011