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News Release

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending September 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 367,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 363,000. The 4-week moving average was 375,000, unchanged from the previous week's revised average.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending September 22, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending September 22 was 3,281,000, unchanged from the preceding week's revised level. The 4-week moving average was 3,285,250, a decrease of 12,750 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,298,000.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 298,743 in the week ending September 29, a decrease of 4,942 from the previous week. There were 332,394 initial claims in the comparable week in 2011.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.2 percent during the week ending September 22, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 2,815,352, a decrease of 26,169 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.5 percent and the volume was 3,165,909.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending September 15 was 5,088,612, a decrease of 85,386 from the previous week. There were 6,859,096 persons claiming benefits in all programs in the comparable week in 2011.

Extended Benefits were only available in New York during the week ending September 15.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,315 in the week ending September 22, an increase of 45 from the prior week. There were 2,510 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 400 from the preceding week.

There were 16,579 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending September 15, a decrease of 453 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 38,529, an increase of 411 from the prior week.

States reported 2,143,049 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending September 15, a decrease of 17,399 from the prior week. There were 3,027,447 persons claiming EUC 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 September 15 were in Puerto Rico (4.0), Alaska (3.5), California (3.2), Pennsylvania (3.2), New Jersey (3.2), Virgin Islands (3.1), Connecticut (3.0), Nevada (2.8), and Oregon (2.7).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending September 22 were in Mississippi (+3,314), Ohio (+1,975), Michigan (+1,179), Alabama (+823), and Kentucky (+372), while the largest decreases were in California (-13,527), New York (-3,773), North Carolina (-2,198), Indiana (-2,160), and Virginia (-1,969).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS

WEEK ENDING

Advance Sept. 29

Sept. 22

Change

Sept. 15

Prior Year1

Initial Claims (SA)

367,000

363,000

+4,000

385,000

402,000

Initial Claims (NSA)

298,743

303,685

-4,942

330,454

332,394

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

375,000

375,000

0

378,500

408,250

WEEK ENDING

Advance Sept. 22

Sept. 15

Change

Sept. 8

Prior Year1

Ins. Unemployment (SA)

3,281,000

3,281,000

0

3,275,000

3,698,000

Ins. Unemployment (NSA)

2,815,352

2,841,521

-26,169

2,927,923

3,165,909

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

3,285,250

3,298,000

-12,750

3,310,500

3,718,000

Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2

2.6%

2.6%

0.0

2.6%

2.9%

Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2

2.2%

2.2%

0.0

2.3%

2.5%

INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

WEEK ENDING

Sept. 22

Sept. 15

Change

Prior Year1

Federal Employees

1,315

1,270

+45

2,211

Newly Discharged Veterans

2,510

2,910

-400

2,730

PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN ALL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

WEEK ENDING

Sept. 15

Sept. 8

Change

Prior Year1

Regular State

2,834,061

2,919,440

-85,379

3,196,242

Federal Employees (UCFE)

16,579

17,032

-453

23,868

Newly Discharged Veterans (UCX)

38,529

38,118

+411

38,619

EUC 20083

2,143,049

2,160,448

-17,399

3,027,447

Extended Benefits4

21,384

2,556

+18,828

521,777

State Additional Benefits 5

6,304

6,309

-5

4,538

STC / Workshare 6

28,706

30,095

-1,389

46,605

TOTAL

5,088,612

5,173,998

-85,386

6,859,096

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 127,495,952 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 09/22/2012

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

CA

-13,527

Fewer layoffs in the service industry.

NY

-3,773

Fewer layoffs in the construction, manufacturing, and educational service industries.

NC

-2,198

Fewer layoffs in the construction, and manufacturing industries.

IN

-2,160

No comment.

VA

-1,969

Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.

SC

-1,712

Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.

LA

-1,579

No comment.

GA

-1,482

Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing, trade, and administrative and support service industries.

WI

-1,212

No comment.

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

MS

+3,314

Individuals separated from work due to Tropical Storm Isaac.

OH

+1,975

Layoffs in the automotive industry.

MI

+1,179

No comment.

State Detail Prior WeekUI Claims Series 1967 to current

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Agency
Employment and Training Administration
Date
October 4, 2012