News Release

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TRANSMISSION OF MATERIALS IN THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL
8:30 A.M. (Eastern) Thursday, April 2, 2020
COVID-19 Impact
The COVID-19 virus continues to impact the number of initial claims. Nearly every state providing comments cited the
COVID-19 virus. States continued to identify increases related to the services industries broadly, again led by accommodation
and food services. However, state comments indicated a wider impact across industries. Many states continued to cite the
health care and social assistance, and manufacturing industries, while an increasing number of states identified the retail and
wholesale trade and construction industries.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending March 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 6,648,000, an increase of
3,341,000 from the previous week's revised level. This marks the highest level of seasonally adjusted initial claims in the
history of the seasonally adjusted series. The previous week's level was revised up by 24,000 from 3,283,000 to
3,307,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,612,000, an increase of 1,607,750 from the previous week's revised
average. The previous week's average was revised up by 6,000 from 998,250 to 1,004,250.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.1 percent for the week ending March 21, an
increase of 0.9 percentage point from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted
insured unemployment during the week ending March 21 was 3,029,000, an increase of 1,245,000 from the previous
week's revised level. This is the highest level for insured unemployment since July 6, 2013 when it was 3,079,000. The
previous week's level was revised down by 19,000 from 1,803,000 to 1,784,000. The 4-week moving average was
2,053,500, an increase of 327,250 from the previous week's revised average. This is the highest level for this average
since January 14, 2017 when it was 2,062,000. The previous week's average was revised down by 4,750 from 1,731,000
to 1,726,250.

1

 UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 5,823,917 in the week ending
March 28, an increase of 2,903,757 (or 99.4 percent) from the previous week. The seasonal factors had expected a
decrease of 23,150 (or -0.8 percent) from the previous week. There were 183,775 initial claims in the comparable week
in 2019.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.3 percent during the week ending March 21, an increase of 0.9
percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs
totaled 3,383,382, an increase of 1,308,646 (or 63.1 percent) from the preceding week. The seasonal factors had expected
a decrease of 82,062 (or -4.0 percent) from the previous week. A year earlier the rate was 1.3 percent and the volume was
1,908,355.

2

 The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending March 14 was 2,105,219, an increase
of 98,832 from the previous week. There were 2,040,256 persons claiming benefits in all programs in the comparable
week in 2019.
No state was triggered "on" the Extended Benefits program during the week ending March 14.
Initial claims for UI benefits filed by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,282 in the week ending March 21, an
increase of 709 from the prior week. There were 897 initial claims filed by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 461
from the preceding week.
There were 9,792 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending March 14, an increase of
148 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 5,591, an increase of 384 from the
prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending March 14 were in Alaska (2.8), Connecticut (2.7), New
Jersey (2.6), California (2.4), Massachusetts (2.3), Minnesota (2.3), Rhode Island (2.3), Montana (2.2), Pennsylvania
(2.2), Illinois (2.1), and West Virginia (2.1).
All states reported increases in initial claims for the week ending March 21. The largest increases were in Pennsylvania
(+362,012), Ohio (+189,263), Massachusetts (+141,003), Texas (+139,250), and California (+128,727), while the
smallest increases were in the Virgin Islands (+79), South Dakota (+1,571), West Virginia (+2,671), Vermont (+3,125),
and Wyoming (+3,136).

3

 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
WEEK ENDING
Initial Claims (SA)
Initial Claims (NSA)
4-Wk Moving Average (SA)
WEEK ENDING

March 28
6,648,000
5,823,917
2,612,000
March 21

March 21
3,307,000
2,920,160
1,004,250
March 14

Change
+3,341,000
+2,903,757
+1,607,750
Change

March 14 Prior Year1
282,000
211,000
251,416
183,775
232,500
217,250
March 7 Prior Year1

Insured Unemployment (SA)
Insured Unemployment (NSA)
4-Wk Moving Average (SA)
Insured Unemployment Rate (SA)2
Insured Unemployment Rate (NSA)2

3,029,000
3,383,382
2,053,500
2.1%
2.3%

1,784,000
2,074,736
1,726,250
1.2%
1.4%

+1,245,000
+1,308,646
+327,250
+0.9
+0.9

1,702,000
1,977,272
1,703,500
1.2%
1.4%

1,719,000
1,908,355
1,728,750
1.2%
1.3%

INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
WEEK ENDING
Federal Employees (UCFE)
Newly Discharged Veterans (UCX)

March 21
1,282
897

March 14
573
436

Change
+709
+461

Prior Year1
602
480

PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN ALL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
WEEK ENDING
Regular State
Federal Employees
Newly Discharged Veterans
Extended Benefits3
State Additional Benefits4
STC / Workshare 5
TOTAL

March 14
2,071,070
9,792
5,591
0
5,901
12,865
2,105,219

March 7
1,973,584
9,644
5,207
0
5,584
12,368
2,006,387

Change
+97,486
+148
+384
0
+317
+497
+98,832

Prior Year1
2,006,493
11,079
6,068
0
5,854
10,762
2,040,256

FOOTNOTES
SA - Seasonally Adjusted Data, NSA - Not Seasonally Adjusted Data
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.

Prior year is comparable to most recent data.
Most recent week used covered employment of 145,230,691 as denominator.
Information on the EB program can be found here: EB Program information
Some states maintain additional benefit programs for those claimants who exhaust regular benefits, and when applicable,
extended benefits. Information on states that participate, and the extent of benefits paid, can be found starting on page 4-4 of
this link: Extensions and Special Programs PDF
Information on STC/Worksharing can be found starting on page 4-8 of the following link: Extensions and Special Programs
PDF

4

 Advance State Claims - Not Seasonally Adjusted
STATE
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California*
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania*
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virgin Islands
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
US Total

Initial Claims Filed During Week Ended March 28
Advance
Prior Wk
Change
80,186
10,892
69,294
14,523
7,847
6,676
89,064
29,348
59,716
26,944
9,275
17,669
878,727
186,333
692,394
60,784
19,774
41,010
33,182
25,100
8,082
18,987
10,776
8,211
14,868
14,462
406
227,000
74,313
152,687
132,386
12,140
120,246
48,861
8,815
40,046
32,240
13,586
18,654
178,133
114,114
64,019
146,243
59,755
86,488
58,453
40,952
17,501
54,739
23,563
31,176
112,726
49,023
63,703
97,830
72,438
25,392
23,535
21,459
2,076
83,536
42,981
40,555
181,062
148,452
32,610
311,086
128,006
183,080
109,896
115,773
-5,877
30,946
5,519
25,427
96,734
42,246
54,488
19,540
15,349
4,191
24,572
15,700
8,872
71,419
92,298
-20,879
27,454
29,379
-1925
205,515
115,815
89,700
28,182
18,105
10,077
366,403
79,999
286,404
170,881
94,083
76,798
12,591
5,662
6,929
272,129
196,309
75,820
44,970
21,926
23,044
42,502
30,054
12,448
405,880
377,451
28,429
45,218
20,148
25,070
28,067
35,847
-7,780
64,856
31,826
33,030
6,645
1,761
4884
94,492
38,077
56,415
275,597
155,426
120,171
28,560
19,690
8,870
14,443
3,784
10,659
160
123
37
114,104
46,277
67,827
187,501
129,909
57,592
14,166
3,536
10,630
110,724
51,031
59,693
4,675
3,653
1,022
5,823,917
2,920,160
2,903,757

Insured Unemployment For Week Ended March 21
Advance
Prior Wk
Change
12,618
12,487
131
11,028
8,512
2,516
23,761
18,108
5,653
14,733
10,988
3,745
382,466
421,912
-39,446
22,395
21,309
1,086
82,176
44,194
37,982
12,172
5,297
6,875
16,354
7,378
8,976
30,445
33,728
-3,283
107,001
27,507
79,494
11,183
6,426
4,757
15,085
7,869
7,216
132,838
125,437
7,401
30,865
20,778
10,087
54,461
26,496
27,965
17,545
9,973
7,572
23,817
22,328
1,489
55,602
14,143
41,459
21,783
8,703
13,080
47,225
26,467
20,758
182,023
83,127
98,896
90,359
75,075
15,284
165,877
66,787
99,090
8,294
6,667
1,627
48,699
21,538
27,161
19,469
9,818
9,651
6,192
4,859
1,333
57,253
19,822
37,431
27,624
4,024
23,600
158,254
105,840
52,414
20,953
9,288
11,665
316,791
167,214
149,577
73,597
20,652
52,945
9,640
6,169
3,471
213,288
68,323
144,965
24,519
16,854
7,665
63,829
30,523
33,306
136,519
128,029
8,490
16,787
15,239
1,548
32,200
10,857
21,343
29,656
15,111
14,545
3,434
2,674
760
36,300
18,350
17,950
144,542
126,427
18,115
23,245
10,826
12,419
14,136
4,810
9,326
514
584
-70
42,200
21,628
20,572
161,868
62,623
99,245
24,086
14,154
9,932
100,410
43,607
56,803
5,271
3,197
2,074
3,383,382
2,074,736
1,308,646

Note: Advance claims are not directly comparable to claims reported in prior weeks. Advance claims are reported by the
state liable for paying the unemployment compensation, whereas previous weeks reported claims reflect claimants by
state of residence. In addition, claims reported as "workshare equivalent" in the previous week are added to the advance
claims as a proxy for the current week's "workshare equivalent" activity.
*Denotes state estimate.

5

 Seasonally Adjusted US Weekly UI Claims (in thousands)

Week Ending
March 23, 2019
March 30, 2019
April 6, 2019
April 13, 2019
April 20, 2019
April 27, 2019
May 4, 2019
May 11, 2019
May 18, 2019
May 25, 2019
June 1, 2019
June 8, 2019
June 15, 2019
June 22, 2019
June 29, 2019
July 6, 2019
July 13, 2019
July 20, 2019
July 27, 2019
August 3, 2019
August 10, 2019
August 17, 2019
August 24, 2019
August 31, 2019
September 7, 2019
September 14, 2019
September 21, 2019
September 28, 2019
October 5, 2019
October 12, 2019
October 19, 2019
October 26, 2019
November 2, 2019
November 9, 2019
November 16, 2019
November 23, 2019
November 30, 2019
December 7, 2019
December 14, 2019
December 21, 2019
December 28, 2019
January 4, 2020
January 11, 2020
January 18, 2020
January 25, 2020
February 1, 2020
February 8, 2020
February 15, 2020
February 22, 2020
February 29, 2020
March 7, 2020
March 14, 2020
March 21, 2020
March 28, 2020

Initial
Claims
215
211
203
203
226
230
225
217
213
218
220
220
219
224
222
211
217
211
216
214
218
215
215
219
208
211
215
218
212
218
213
217
212
222
223
211
206
237
229
218
220
212
207
220
212
201
204
215
220
217
211
282
3,307
6,648

Change
from
Prior
Week
-4
-4
-8
0
23
4
-5
-8
-4
5
2
0
-1
5
-2
-11
6
-6
5
-2
4
-3
0
4
-11
3
4
3
-6
6
-5
4
-5
10
1
-12
-5
31
-8
-11
2
-8
-5
13
-8
-11
3
11
5
-3
-6
71
3,025
3,341

Change
from
Insured
Prior
Unemployment Week
1,719
-13
1,705
-14
1,667
-38
1,659
-8
1,682
23
1,684
2
1,678
-6
1,683
5
1,675
-8
1,695
20
1,700
5
1,677
-23
1,692
15
1,699
7
1,717
18
1,694
-23
1,682
-12
1,699
17
1,692
-7
1,719
27
1,687
-32
1,699
12
1,683
-16
1,683
0
1,675
-8
1,672
-3
1,667
-5
1,698
31
1,689
-9
1,691
2
1,700
9
1,695
-5
1,702
7
1,697
-5
1,665
-32
1,697
32
1,700
3
1,725
25
1,716
-9
1,728
12
1,775
47
1,759
-16
1,735
-24
1,704
-31
1,753
49
1,678
-75
1,729
51
1,693
-36
1,720
27
1,699
-21
1,702
3
1,784
82
3,029
1,245

4-Week
Average
219.50
217.25
212.00
208.00
210.75
215.50
221.00
224.50
221.25
218.25
217.00
217.75
219.25
220.75
221.25
219.00
218.50
215.25
213.75
214.50
214.75
215.75
215.50
216.75
214.25
213.25
213.25
213.00
214.00
215.75
215.25
215.00
215.00
216.00
218.50
217.00
215.50
219.25
220.75
222.50
226.00
219.75
214.25
214.75
212.75
210.00
209.25
208.00
210.00
214.00
215.75
232.50
1,004.25
2,612.00

6

4-Week
Average
1,728.75
1,722.50
1,705.75
1,687.50
1,678.25
1,673.00
1,675.75
1,681.75
1,680.00
1,682.75
1,688.25
1,686.75
1,691.00
1,692.00
1,696.25
1,700.50
1,698.00
1,698.00
1,691.75
1,698.00
1,699.25
1,699.25
1,697.00
1,688.00
1,685.00
1,678.25
1,674.25
1,678.00
1,681.50
1,686.25
1,694.50
1,693.75
1,697.00
1,698.50
1,689.75
1,690.25
1,689.75
1,696.75
1,709.50
1,717.25
1,736.00
1,744.50
1,749.25
1,743.25
1,737.75
1,717.50
1,716.00
1,713.25
1,705.00
1,710.25
1,703.50
1,726.25
2,053.50

IUR
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
2.1

 INITIAL CLAIMS FILED DURING WEEK ENDED
MARCH 21
CHANGE FROM

STATE NAME
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virgin Islands
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Totals

STATE
10892
7847
29348
9275
186333
19774
25100
10776
14462
74313
12140
8815
13586
114114
59755
40952
23563
49023
72438
21459
42981
148452
128006
115773
5519
42246
15349
15700
92298
29379
115815
18105
79999
94083
5662
196309
21926
30054
377451
20148
35847
31826
1761
38077
155426
19690
3784
123
46277
129909
3536
51031
3653
2920160

LAST
YEAR
WEEK
AGO UCFE 1 UCX 1
9073
8672
13
4
6727
6997
2
1
25504
25946
10
1
7893
7012
2
3
128727 146501
134
83
17453
18224
16
14
21660
22592
13
2
10304
10316
5
9
13249
14074
67
0
67850
68960
40
72
6695
7958
10
9
7226
7760
5
1
12555
12482
11
4
103244 106181
12
4
57159
57686
11
20
38723
38680
16
7
21808
22292
1
2
46238
47066
0
0
70183
70819
23
13
20825
20898
0
2
39117
40058
17
14
141003 144151
39
49
122668 123119
65
44
111763 112460
28
30
4372
4589
3
1
38230
38689
2
3
14532
14620
28
3
14905
14970
11
4
85942
90183
7
4
28737
28863
4
4
106348 108330
11
7
17236
17268
2
0
65727
67315
22
9
90550
91287
37
47
5247
5451
9
3
189263 190328
17
82
20090
20354
19
9
25785
26199
33
6
362012 365554
317
48
18976
19146
1
4
34739
35089
0
1
29733
30093
7
9
1571
1590
4
0
35375
35710
35
22
139250 141044
85
139
18385
18817
23
2
3125
3285
1
2
79
99
0
0
43571
44136
10
14
115669 124504
32
75
2671
2796
0
2
45841
45615
10
9
3136
3309
12
0
2668744 2730137 1282 897

INSURED UNEMPLOYMENT FOR WEEK ENDED
MARCH 14
CHANGE FROM
ALL PROGRAMS
EXCLUDING
LAST YEAR
RAILROAD
STATE (%) 2 WEEK AGO UCFE 1 UCX 1
RETIREMENT
12487 0.6 -583
-1782
57
34
12578
8512 2.8
-10
-752
137
11
8660
18108 0.6
513
-879
182
41
18331
10988 0.9 -526
573
70
35
11093
421912 2.4 70568 37066 2364
1263
425539
21309 0.8
49
-1577
278
142
21729
44194 2.7 4408
3067
49
60
44303
5297 1.2
-13
-106
11
12
5320
7378 1.3
632
141
197
7
7582
33728 0.4 1484
-1202
144
103
33975
27507 0.6 2155
3589
155
129
27791
6426 1.0
231
-126
72
46
6544
7869 1.1 -1467
-797
199
16
8084
125437 2.1 -4888 -5877
305
128
125870
20778 0.7 -695
1110
22
23
20823
26496 1.7 -1320 -2834
47
22
26565
9973 0.7
202
-913
28
27
10028
22328 1.2 -612
2011
187
121
22636
14143 0.7
156
69
48
17
14208
8703 1.4
252
537
42
10
8755
26467 1.0 -579
-2446
180
75
26722
83127 2.3 8791
4533
99
90
83316
75075 1.7 -682
-3883
174
65
75314
66787 2.3 5006
9108
123
58
66968
6667 0.6 -431
-817
65
23
6755
21538 0.8 -843
-1735
83
26
21647
9818 2.2 -294
-950
457
19
10294
4859 0.5 -217
-2040
16
8
4883
19822 1.4
347
670
103
46
19971
4024 0.6
115
-216
7
2
4033
105840 2.6 1557
1599
215
275
106330
9288 1.2 -278
-252
195
41
9524
167214 1.8 8946
15052
300
305
167819
20652 0.5
969
629
97
88
20837
6169 1.5 -180
278
15
3
6187
68323 1.3 -193
3088
101
120
68544
16854 1.1
372
2637
54
47
16955
30523 1.6 1521
338
561
58
31142
128029 2.2 -813
-6724
496
183
128708
15239 1.8 -3465
-114
120
72
15431
10857 2.3
165
-640
17
7
10881
15111 0.7
79
746
32
60
15203
2674 0.6 -196
-575
47
3
2724
18350 0.6 -100
651
89
51
18490
126427 1.0 -1478
8433
554
923
127904
10826 0.7
125
696
149
17
10992
4810 1.6
-86
-337
8
2
4820
584
1.7
-8
158
14
0
598
21628 0.6
292
103
176
176
21980
62623 1.9 7035
2947
451
427
63501
14154 2.1 -1240
1586
38
35
14227
43607 1.5 2869
1288
99
28
43734
3197 1.2 -178
290
63
11
3271
2074736 1.4 97464 65419 9792
5591
2090119

Figures appearing in columns showing over-the-week changes reflect all revisions in data for prior week submitted by
state agencies.
1. The Unemployment Compensation program for Federal Employees (UCFE) and the Unemployment Compensation for
Ex-servicemembers (UCX) exclude claims filed jointly under other programs to avoid duplication.
2. Rate is not seasonally adjusted. The source of U.S. total covered employment is BLS.

7

 UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED MARCH 21, 2020

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State
PA

Change
+362,012

State Supplied Comment
Layoffs in the transportation and warehousing, accommodation and food services,
administrative, support, waste management, and remediation services, and health care and
social assistance industries.
Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
Layoffs in the accommodation and food services, transportation and warehousing, health care
and social assistance, administrative, support, waste management, and remediation services,
mining, retail trade, manufacturing, real estate rental and leasing, and construction industries.
Layoffs in the service industry.
Layoffs in the accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance,
manufacturing, retail trade, administrative, support, waste management, and remediation
services, arts, entertainment, and recreation, service, professional, scientific, and technical
services, construction, transportation and warehousing, educational services, information,
management of companies and enterprises, and real estate rental and leasing industries.
Layoffs in the retail trade, educational services, health care and social assistance, arts,
entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services industries.
Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
Layoffs in the accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance, and
manufacturing industries.
Layoffs in the health care and social assistance, and administrative, support, waste
management, and remediation services industries.
Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
No comment.
Layoffs in the service, retail trade, manufacturing, wholesale trade, construction, and
agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industries.
Layoffs in the accommodation and food services, arts, entertainment, and recreation, and health
care and social assistance industries. Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
Layoffs in the accommodation and food services, manufacturing, health care and social
assistance industries. Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
No comment.
Layoffs in the accommodation and food services and health care and social assistance
industries. Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
Layoffs in the accommodation and food services industry.
No comments.
Layoffs in the accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance, service,
educational services, and arts, entertainment, and recreation industries. Increase in initial
claims due to COVID-19.
Layoffs in the accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance, and retail
trade industries. Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
Layoffs in the accommodation and food services, retail trade, health care and social assistance,
service, and administrative, support, waste management and remediation services industries.

OH
MA
TX

+189,263
+141,003
+139,250

CA
MI

+128,727
+122,668

WA

+115,669

MN
NJ
IL

+111,763
+106,348
+103,244

NC

+90,550

NV
LA
FL

+85,942
+70,183
+67,850

NY

+65,727

IN

+57,159

KY
WI

+46,238
+45,841

VA
MD
IA

+43,571
+39,117
+38,723

MO

+38,230

TN

+35,375

RI

+34,739

Layoffs in the accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance, transportation
and warehousing, and arts, entertainment, and recreation industries.

SC
NH
OR
AZ
KS
CT

+29,733
+28,737
+25,785
+25,504
+21,808
+21,660

Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
No comment.
No comment.
Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
8

 ME

+20,825

OK
PR
UT
CO

+20,090
+18,976
+18,385
+17,453

NM
NE
MT
DC
ID
DE
AL

+17,236
+14,905
+14,532
+13,249
+12,555
+10,304
+9,073

AR
HI
AK
GA

+7,893
+7,226
+6,727
+6,695

ND
MS
WY

+5,247
+4,372
+3,136

VT
WV
SD

+3,125
+2,671
+1,571

Layoffs in the accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance,
manufacturing, retail trade, arts, entertainment, and recreation, and service industries. Increase
in initial claims due to COVID-19.
No comment.
Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
No comment.
Layoffs in the arts, entertainment, and recreation and accommodation and food services
industries. Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
No comment.
Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
Layoffs in the accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance,
administrative, support, waste management, and remediation services, retail trade, educational
services, and transportation and warehousing industries. Increase in initial claims due to
COVID-19.
No comment.
Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
No comment.
Layoffs in the accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance,
professional, scientific and technical services, administrative, support, waste management, and
remediation services, and retail trade industries.
Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
Layoffs in the construction, mining, administrative, support, waste management, and
remediation services, retail trade, and accommodation and food services industries. Increase in
initial claims due to COVID-19.
Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
No comment.
No comment.

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State
None

Change

State Supplied Comment

9

 TECHNICAL NOTES
This news release presents the weekly unemployment insurance (UI) claims reported by each state's unemployment
insurance program offices. These claims may be used for monitoring workload volume, assessing state program
operations and for assessing labor market conditions. States initially report claims directly taken by the state liable for the
benefit payments, regardless of where the claimant who filed the claim resided. These are the basis for the advance initial
claims and continued claims reported each week. These data come from ETA 538, Advance Weekly Initial and
Continued Claims Report. The following week initial claims and continued claims are revised based on a second
reporting by states that reflect the claimants by state of residence. These data come from the ETA 539, Weekly Claims
and Extended Benefits Trigger Data Report.
A. Initial Claims
An initial claim is a claim filed by an unemployed individual after a separation from an employer. The claimant requests
a determination of basic eligibility for the UI program. When an initial claim is filed with a state, certain programmatic
activities take place and these result in activity counts including the count of initial claims. The count of U.S. initial
claims for unemployment insurance is a leading economic indicator because it is an indication of emerging labor market
conditions in the country. However, these are weekly administrative data which are difficult to seasonally adjust, making
the series subject to some volatility.
B. Continued Weeks Claimed
A person who has already filed an initial claim and who has experienced a week of unemployment then files a continued
claim to claim benefits for that week of unemployment. Continued claims are also referred to as insured unemployment.
The count of U.S. continued weeks claimed is also a good indicator of labor market conditions. Continued claims reflect
the current number of insured unemployed workers filing for UI benefits in the nation. While continued claims are not a
leading indicator (they roughly coincide with economic cycles at their peaks and lag at cycle troughs), they provide
confirming evidence of the direction of the U.S. economy.
C. Seasonal Adjustments and Annual Revisions
Over the course of a year, the weekly changes in the levels of initial claims and continued claims undergo regularly
occurring fluctuations. These fluctuations may result from seasonal changes in weather, major holidays, the opening and
closing of schools, or other similar events. Because these seasonal events follow a more or less regular pattern each year,
their influence on the level of a series can be tempered by adjusting for regular seasonal variation. These adjustments
make trend and cycle developments easier to spot. At the beginning of each calendar year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics
provides the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) with a set of seasonal factors to apply to the unadjusted
data during that year. Concurrent with the implementation and release of the new seasonal factors, ETA incorporates
revisions to the UI claims historical series caused by updates to the unadjusted data.

Weekly Claims Archives
Weekly Claims Data
U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The Department's Reasonable Accommodation
Resource Center converts Departmental information and documents into alternative formats, which include Braille and large
print. For alternative format requests, please contact the Department at (202) 693-7828 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (federal
relay).

U.S. Department of Labor
Employment and Training Administration
Washington, D.C. 20210
Release Number: USDL 20-551-NAT

Program Contact:
Kevin Stapleton: (202) 693-3009
Media Contact:
(202) 693-4676

10