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Secretary of Labor Hilda L. SolisDOL Home > Newsroom > News Releases
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATIONUSDL 11-0721-NAT
Program Contact:TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS
Scott Gibbons (202) 693-3008RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL
Tony Sznoluch (202) 693-31768:30 A.M. (EDT), THURSDAY
Media Contact :May 19, 2011
(202) 693-4676
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending May 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial
claims was 409,000, a decrease of 29,000 from the previous week's revised figure
of 438,000. The 4-week moving average was 439,000, an increase of 1,250 from the

previous week's revised average of 437,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent for
the week ending May 7, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.0
percent.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week
ending May 7 was 3,711,000, a decrease of 81,000 from the preceding week's
revised level of 3,792,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,728,250, an increase
of 750 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,727,500.
UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted,
totaled 357,872 in the week ending May 14, a decrease of 39,865 from the
previous week. There were 414,572 initial claims in the comparable week in 2010.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.8 percent during the week
ending May 7, a decrease of 0.2 percentage point from the prior week. The
advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs
totaled 3,562,660, a decrease of 160,611 from the preceding week. A year
earlier, the rate was 3.5 percent and the volume was 4,471,786.
The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending
April 30 was 7,936,548, a decrease of 47,124 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, Ohio, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and
West Virginia, during the week ending April 30.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled
1,449 in the week ending May 7, a decrease of 168 from the prior week. There
were 2,470 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 190 from
the preceding week.
There were 26,495 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the
week ending April 30, a decrease of 2,971 from the previous week. Newly
discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 37,186, an increase of 430 from
the prior week.
States reported 3,468,979 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment
Compensation) benefits for the week ending April 30, an increase of 53,398 from
the prior week. There were 5,095,265 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 April 30 were in
Alaska (5.8 percent), Puerto Rico (5.6), Oregon (4.3), Pennsylvania (4.1),
California (4.0), New Jersey (3.9), Wisconsin (3.9), Nevada (3.7), Connecticut
(3.7), Idaho (3.6), and Rhode Island (3.6).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending May 7 were in
Alabama (+5,767), California (+4,015), Puerto Rico (+3,124), Michigan (+3,122),
and Mississippi (+1,666), while the largest decreases were in New York
(-23,445), Wisconsin (-3,556), Ohio (-3,014), Connecticut (-2,693), and New
Jersey (-1,599).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS

WEEK ENDINGAdvance May 14May 7 ChangeApril 30Prior Year1

Initial Claims (SA)409,000438,000-29,000478,000477,000

Initial Claims (NSA)357,872397,737-39,865415,974414,572
4-Wk Moving Average (SA)439,000437,750+1,250432,250462,250
WEEK ENDINGAdvance May 7 April 30ChangeApril 23Prior Year1

Ins. Unemployment (SA)3,711,0003,792,000-81,0003,751,0004,648,000

Ins. Unemployment (NSA)3,562,6603,732,271-160,6113,769,8104,471,786
4-Wk Moving Average (SA)3,728,2503,727,500+7503,705,2504,659,250

Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)23.0%3.0%0.03.0%3.6%

Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2
2.8%3.0%-0.23.0%3.5%

INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

WEEK ENDINGMay 7 April 30ChangePrior Year1

Federal Employees1,4491,617-1681,339
Newly Discharged Veterans2,4702,2801902,532

PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN ALL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

WEEK ENDINGApril 30April 23ChangePrior Year1

Regular State 3,711,8633,758,293-46,4304,530,269
Federal Employees (UCFE) 26,49529,466-2,97117,388
Newly Discharged Veterans (UCX) 37,18636,75643035,046
EUC 200833,468,9793,415,58153,3985,095,265
Extended Benefits4640,042689,009-48,967291,280
State Additional Benefits 56,8146,5412739,853
 STC / Workshare 645,16948,026-2,85777,811
TOTAL7,936,5487,983,672-47,12410,056,912

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.xls
4 - 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 05/07/2011

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

StateChange State Supplied Comment

NY-23,445 Fewer layoffs in the service and construction industries.
WI-3,556 No comment.
OH-3,014 No comment.
CT-2,693 No comment.
NJ-1,599 Fewer layoffs in the trade, construction, service,
transportation, and warehousing industries.
IN-1,199 No comment.
IL-1,189 Fewer layoffs in the construction, manufacturing, and service
industries.

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

StateChange State Supplied Comment

NC+1,192 Layoffs in the construction, service, leather goods, and rubber/
plastics industries.
WA+1,198 Layoffs in the manufacturing and construction industries.
MS+1,666 Layoffs in the service industry.
MI+3,122 Layoffs in the automobile and construction industries.
PR+3,124 No comment.
CA+4,015 Layoffs in the service industry.
AL+5,767 The figure reflected impact of storms and tornadoes of the
previous week. Also, layoffs in the textile, apparel, and service
industries.
State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current
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