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News Release

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending December 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 370,000, a decrease of 25,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 395,000. The 4-week moving average was 408,000, an increase of 2,250 from the previous week's revised average of 405,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent for the week ending November 24, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending November 24 was 3,205,000, a decrease of 100,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,305,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,309,000, an increase of 7,750 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,301,250.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 498,619 in the week ending December 1, an increase of 139,678 from the previous week. There were 528,793 initial claims in the comparable week in 2011.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent during the week ending November 24, an increase of 0.4 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,301,200, an increase of 465,529 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.9 percent and the volume was 3,696,154.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending November 17 was 4,959,240, a decrease of 224,722 from the previous week. There were 6,575,150 persons claiming benefits in all programs in the comparable week in 2011.

Extended Benefits were only available in New York during the week ending November 17.

Initial claims for UI benefits filed by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,627 in the week ending November 24, an increase of 2 from the prior week. There were 1,863 initial claims filed by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 522 from the preceding week.

There were 18,845 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending November 17, an increase of 242 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 36,889, a decrease of 2,436 from the prior week.

States reported 2,008,608 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending November 17, a decrease of 110,446 from the prior week. There were 2,794,284 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 November 10 were in Alaska (5.7), New Jersey (3.9), Puerto Rico (3.6), Pennsylvania (3.3), Connecticut (3.1), Oregon (3.1), Nevada (2.9), Montana (2.8), and New York (2.8).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending November 24 were in Wisconsin (+5,876), Oregon (+2,328), Ohio (+2,252), Washington (+2,107), and Iowa (+1,262), while the largest decreases were in New Jersey (-23,966), California (-7,053), New York (-6,682), Texas (-6,425) and North Carolina (-2,609).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS

WEEK ENDING

Advance Dec. 1

Nov. 24

Change

Nov. 17

Prior Year1

Initial Claims (SA)

370,000

395,000

-25,000

416,000

383,000

Initial Claims (NSA)

498,619

358,941

+139,678

403,637

528,793

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

408,000

405,750

+2,250

397,750

391,250

WEEK ENDING

Advance Nov. 24

Nov. 17

Change

Nov. 10

Prior Year1

Ins. Unemployment (SA)

3,205,000

3,305,000

-100,000

3,359,000

3,599,000

Ins. Unemployment (NSA)

3,301,200

2,835,671

+465,529

2,945,515

3,696,154

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

3,309,000

3,301,250

+7,750

3,290,500

3,651,750

Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2

2.5%

2.6%

-0.1

2.6%

2.9%

Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2

2.6%

2.2%

+0.4

2.3%

2.9%

INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

WEEK ENDING

Nov. 24

Nov. 17

Change

Prior Year1

Federal Employees

1,627

1,625

+2

2,003

Newly Discharged Veterans

1,863

2,385

-522

1,808

PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN ALL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

WEEK ENDING

Nov. 17

Nov. 10

Change

Prior Year1

Regular State

2,829,919

2,938,940

-109,021

3,157,910

Federal Employees (UCFE)

18,845

18,603

+242

27,698

Newly Discharged Veterans (UCX)

36,889

39,325

-2,436

38,923

EUC 20083

2,008,608

2,119,054

-110,446

2,794,284

Extended Benefits4

37,096

37,302

-206

515,560

State Additional Benefits 5

5,820

5,740

+80

4,533

STC / Workshare 6

22,063

24,998

-2,935

36,242

TOTAL

4,959,240

5,183,962

-224,722

6,575,150

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 128,066,082 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 11/24/2012

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

NJ

-23,966

There are fewer storm related claims; primarily from the construction, transportation and warehousing, manufacturing, trade, and accommodation and food service industries.

CA

-7,053

Fewer layoffs in all sectors, primarily in the service industry.

NY

-6,682

Fewer layoffs in the food service, healthcare and social assistance, and transportation industries.

TX

-6,425

Offices were closed 11/22-11/23 for a State holiday.

NC

-2,609

Fewer layoffs in the business service, food service, furniture and fixtures, health service, machinery, and service industries.

VA

-1,738

Fewer layoffs in the accommodation and food service industries.

MI

-1,546

Fewer layoffs in all sectors.

FL

-1,448

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

GA

-1,286

Offices were closed for a State holiday

CT

-1,215

No comment.

TN

-1,082

no comment.

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

WI

+5,876

No comment.

OR

+2,328

Seasonal increase in initial claims.

OH

+2,252

No comment.

WA

+2,107

Layoffs in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, construction, and manufacturing industries.

IA

+1,262

Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.

PA

+1,154

Layoffs in the transportation, machinery, entertainment, lodging, and food service industries.

State Detail Prior WeekUI Claims Series 1967 to current

This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-693-4676. TDD Message Phone: 1-800-326-2577. News releases from the U.S. Department of Labor are accessible on the Internet at: http://www.dol.gov/ and http://www.ows.doleta.gov/

Agency
Employment and Training Administration
Date
December 1, 2012