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News Release

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending September 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 414,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 412,000. The 4-week moving average was 414,750, an increase of 3,750 from the previous week's revised average of 411,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent for the week ending August 27, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.0 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending August 27 was 3,717,000, a decrease of 30,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,747,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,734,500, an increase of 5,500 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,729,000.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 346,065 in the week ending September 3, an increase of 9,355 from the previous week. There were 381,863 initial claims in the comparable week in 2010.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.7 percent during the week ending August 27, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,416,001, a decrease of 57,181 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.3 percent and the volume was 4,138,965.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending August 20 was 7,169,176, a decrease of 167,009 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, 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 August 20.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 2,015 in the week ending August 27, an increase of 272 from the prior week. There were 2,687 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 55 from the preceding week.

There were 23,988 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending August 20, a decrease of 2,028 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 38,171, an increase of 138 from the prior week.

States reported 3,060,622 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending August 20, a decrease of 57,420 from the prior week. There were 4,507,669 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 August 20 were in Puerto Rico (5.1), New Jersey (4.1),Pennsylvania (4.1), Alaska (3.8) , Connecticut (3.8), California (3.7), Rhode Island (3.7), Oregon (3.6), Nevada (3.4), Massachusetts (3.2), and New York (3.2).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending August 27 were in California (+3,337), South Carolina (+3,108), Florida (+914), Kansas (+437), and Arkansas (+232) while the largest decreases were in New Jersey(-2,415), Pennsylvania (-2,371), Oregon (-1,680), North Carolina (-1,591), and Massachusetts (-1,438).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS

WEEK ENDING

Advance September 3

August 27

Change

August 20

Prior Year1

Initial Claims (SA)

414,000

412,000

+2,000

421,000

455,000

Initial Claims (NSA)

346,065

336,710

+9,355

344,870

381,863

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

414,750

411,000

+3,750

408,500

470,000

WEEK ENDING

Advance August 27

August 20

Change

August 13

Prior Year1

Ins. Unemployment (SA)

3,717,000

3,747,000

-30,000

3,753,000

4,519,000

Ins. Unemployment (NSA)

3,416,001

3,473,182

-57,181

3,557,586

4,138,965

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

3,734,500

3,729,000

+5,500

3,729,250

4,480,500

Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2

3.0

3.0

0.0

3.0

3.6

Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2

2.7

2.8

-0.1

2.8

3.3

INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

WEEK ENDING

August 27

August 20

Change

Prior Year1

Federal Employees

2,015

1,743

+272

4,720

Newly Discharged Veterans

2,687

2,742

-55

2,645

PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN ALL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

WEEK ENDING

August 20

August 13

Change

Prior Year1

Regular State

3,461,773

3,545,584

-83,811

4,110,662

Federal Employees (UCFE)

23,988

26,016

-2,028

25,042

Newly Discharged Veterans (UCX)

38,171

38,033

+138

40,801

EUC 20083

3,060,622

3,118,042

-57,420

4,507,669

Extended Benefits4

536,892

557,923

-21,031

959,812

State Additional Benefits 5

4,165

4,405

-240

3,567

STC / Workshare 6

43,565

46,182

-2,617

61,139

TOTAL

7,169,176

7,336,185

-167,009

9,708,692

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 125,807,389 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 08/27/2011

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

NJ

-2,415

Fewer layoffs in the information, trade, and transportation industries.

PA

-2,371

No comment.

OR

-1,680

No comment.

NC

-1,591

Fewer layoffs in the non classifiable establishments, and the textile industry.

MA

-1,438

No comment.

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

SC

+3,108

Layoffs in the machinery manufacturing industry.

CA

+3,337

Layoffs in all sectors, and largest increase the service industry.

State Detail Prior WeekUI Claims Series 1967 to current

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Agency
Employment and Training Administration
Date
September 8, 2011