News Release

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TRANSMISSION OF MATERIALS IN THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL
8:30 A.M. (Eastern) Thursday, April 23, 2020
COVID-19 Impact
The COVID-19 virus continues to impact the number of initial claims and insured unemployment.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending April 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 4,427,000, a decrease of
810,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 8,000 from 5,245,000 to
5,237,000. The 4-week moving average was 5,786,500, an increase of 280,000 from the previous week's revised average.
The previous week's average was revised down by 2,000 from 5,508,500 to 5,506,500.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 11.0 percent for the week ending April 11, an
increase of 2.8 percentage points from the previous week's unrevised rate. This marks the highest level of the seasonally
adjusted insured unemployment rate in the history of the seasonally adjusted series. The advance number for seasonally
adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending April 11 was 15,976,000, an increase of 4,064,000 from the
previous week's revised level. This marks the highest level of seasonally adjusted insured unemployment in the history of
the seasonally adjusted series. The previous week's level was revised down by 64,000 from 11,976,000 to 11,912,000.
The 4-week moving average was 9,598,250, an increase of 3,548,000 from the previous week's revised average. The
previous week's average was revised down by 16,000 from 6,066,250 to 6,050,250.

1

 UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 4,267,395 in the week ending April
18, a decrease of 697,173 (or -14.0 percent) from the previous week. The seasonal factors had expected an increase of
83,790 (or 1.7 percent) from the previous week. There were 211,762 initial claims in the comparable week in 2019.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 11.3 percent during the week ending April 11, an increase of 2.7
percentage points from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state
programs totaled 16,438,933, an increase of 3,978,614 (or 31.9 percent) from the preceding week. The seasonal factors
had expected a decrease of 202,510 (or -1.6 percent) from the previous week. A year earlier the rate was 1.2 percent and
the volume was 1,703,576.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending April 4 was 12,506,993, an increase of
4,300,016 from the previous week. There were 1,757,864 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 April 4.
Initial claims for UI benefits filed by former Federal civilian employees totaled 2,844 in the week ending April 11, a
decrease of 551 from the prior week. There were 1,821 initial claims filed by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of
223 from the preceding week.

2

 There were 11,562 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending April 4, an increase of
535 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 7,068, an increase of 727 from the
prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending April 4 were in Michigan (17.4), Rhode Island (15.0),
Nevada (13.7), Georgia (13.6), Washington (13.2), New Hampshire (12.2), Minnesota (11.9), New York (11.9), Montana
(11.7), and Ohio (11.6).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending April 11 were in Colorado (+58,246), New York (+50,250),
Missouri (+10,668), Florida (+10,534), and North Carolina (+2,733), while the largest decreases were in California
(-263,342), Michigan (-166,347), New Jersey (-73,416), Georgia (-70,551), and Ohio (-66,874).

3

 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
WEEK ENDING
Initial Claims (SA)
Initial Claims (NSA)
4-Wk Moving Average (SA)
WEEK ENDING
Insured Unemployment (SA)
Insured Unemployment (NSA)
4-Wk Moving Average (SA)
Insured Unemployment Rate (SA)2
Insured Unemployment Rate (NSA)2

April 18
4,427,000
4,267,395
5,786,500
April 11

April 11
5,237,000
4,964,568
5,506,500
April 4

Change
-810,000
-697,173
+280,000
Change

April 4
6,615,000
6,211,406
4,267,750
March 28

Prior Year1
226,000
211,762
210,750
Prior Year1

15,976,000
16,438,933
9,598,250
11.0%
11.3%

11,912,000
12,460,319
6,050,250
8.2%
8.6%

+4,064,000
+3,978,614
+3,548,000
+2.8
+2.7

7,446,000
8,168,375
3,497,750
5.1%
5.6%

1,659,000
1,703,576
1,687,500
1.2%
1.2%

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

April 11
2,844
1,821

April 4
3,395
2,044

Change
-551
-223

Prior Year1
572
526

Change
+4,284,941
+535
+727
+138
-251
+13,926
+4,300,016

Prior Year1
1,727,352
9,120
5,837
0
6,088
9,467
1,757,864

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

April 4
12,442,955
11,562
7,068
138
5,406
39,864
12,506,993

March 28
8,158,014
11,027
6,341
0
5,657
25,938
8,206,977

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 145,671,710 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 April 18
Advance
Prior Wk
Change
65,431
77,515
-12,084
13,027
12,007
1,020
71,843
98,531
-26,688
24,236
35,629
-11,393
533,568
655,472
-121,904
68,667
104,572
-35,905
102,757
34,050
68,707
9,294
13,258
-3,964
8,591
9,974
-1,383
505,137
180,419
324,718
243,677
319,581
-75,904
26,477
34,717
-8,240
12,456
18,531
-6,075
102,736
141,160
-38,424
75,483
113,755
-38,272
27,912
43,889
-15,977
31,920
29,873
2,047
103,548
116,277
-12,729
92,039
79,653
12,386
11,446
13,488
-2,042
46,676
62,904
-16,228
80,345
103,813
-23,468
134,119
222,207
-88,088
74,873
93,133
-18,260
35,843
45,748
-9,905
52,678
102,126
-49,448
10,509
14,275
-3,766
12,340
16,279
-3,939
40,909
58,641
-17,732
19,110
25,273
-6163
139,277
141,420
-2,143
13,338
19,043
-5,705
204,716
394,701
-189,985
104,515
140,155
-35,640
9,042
9,502
-460
108,801
159,317
-50,516
40,297
54,481
-14,184
35,101
54,581
-19,480
198,081
234,868
-36,787
26,248
42,074
-15,826
17,578
22,509
-4,931
73,116
89,147
-16,031
5,128
6,359
-1231
68,968
71,887
-2,919
280,406
274,257
6,149
19,751
24,037
-4,286
6,434
9,662
-3,228
1
6
-5
84,387
104,619
-20,232
89,105
144,455
-55,350
46,251
14,944
31,307
55,886
70,000
-14,114
3,321
5,794
-2,473
4,267,395
4,964,568
-697,173

Insured Unemployment For Week Ended April 11
Advance
Prior Wk
Change
125,764
95,325
30,439
47,784
35,365
12,419
166,193
120,592
45,601
88,896
66,511
22,385
2,434,265
1,429,954
1,004,311
171,517
166,593
4,924
308,614
189,196
119,418
45,377
29,577
15,800
45,741
42,224
3,517
177,009
339,448
-162,439
609,575
595,418
14,157
72,504
48,205
24,299
66,708
59,139
7,569
570,227
452,905
117,322
214,171
147,583
66,588
151,846
127,332
24,514
98,533
78,334
20,199
198,926
182,097
16,829
241,124
217,532
23,592
65,233
55,723
9,510
198,797
160,906
37,891
463,974
361,600
102,374
944,947
749,011
195,936
399,379
341,578
57,801
91,748
60,737
31,011
226,059
178,710
47,349
65,367
53,482
11,885
70,911
60,416
10,495
229,072
189,007
40,065
93,771
79,979
13,792
557,731
429,388
128,343
81,441
62,686
18,755
1,360,820
1,121,191
239,629
463,589
362,989
100,600
36,378
24,554
11,824
713,040
622,669
90,371
111,198
88,330
22,868
343,321
176,154
167,167
1,088,179
614,196
473,983
107,338
86,474
20,864
79,944
70,935
9,009
178,083
126,994
51,089
19,772
14,431
5,341
276,220
206,472
69,748
917,757
632,470
285,287
86,599
71,544
15,055
64,408
31,204
33,204
1,324
776
548
298,269
236,791
61,478
548,564
442,936
105,628
104,904
48,597
56,307
300,422
262,847
37,575
15,600
11,212
4,388
16,438,933
12,460,319
3,978,614

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
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
April 4, 2020
April 11, 2020
April 18, 2020

Initial
Claims
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
6,867
6,615
5,237
4,427

Change
from
Prior
Week
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
3,560
-252
-1,378
-810

Change
from
Insured
Prior
Unemployment Week
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
3,059
1,275
7,446
4,387
11,912
4,466
15,976
4,064

4-Week
Average
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
2,666.75
4,267.75
5,506.50
5,786.50

6

4-Week
Average
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
2,061.00
3,497.75
6,050.25
9,598.25

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
2.1
5.1
8.2
11.0

 INITIAL CLAIMS FILED DURING WEEK ENDED
APRIL 11

INSURED UNEMPLOYMENT FOR WEEK ENDED
APRIL 4

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

CHANGE FROM

LAST
YEAR
STATE
WEEK
AGO UCFE 1 UCX 1
77515
-29224
75134
64
22
12007
-2583
11015
6
2
98531
-33897
92683
21
9
35629
-26457
34178
3
2
655472 -263342 616043
235
222
104572
58246
102535
17
69
34050
586
30596
11
9
13258
-5593
12776
3
11
9974
-5355
9555
160
1
180419
10534
174074
85
109
319581
-70551
314333
76
35
34717
-18384
33589
2
4
18531
-12373
17583
14
2
141160
-59881
133432
14
16
113755
-13255
111385
38
23
43889
-20305
42053
42
14
29873
-19433
28575
2
0
116277
-1298
114169
4
6
79653
-20968
77766
69
38
13488
-17422
12777
0
0
62904
-46592
60124
24
22
103813
-35834
99348
62
41
222207 -166347 216628
125
143
93133
-17127
90329
35
31
45748
-104
44655
2
4
102126
10668
99302
9
7
14275
-6969
13460
27
12
16279
-10775
15713
10
2
58641
-20644
56445
4
5
25273
-13929
24792
8
10
141420
-73416
133779
37
5
19043
-7089
18228
1
3
394701
50250
382570
33
38
140155
2733
137103
87
75
9502
-5623
9230
11
6
159317
-66874
154082
23
81
54481
-6053
52657
57
28
54581
-8207
50229
35
8
234868
-42772
223373
987
332
42074
-24481
40644
8
9
22509
-5734
21758
10
4
89147
2574
87109
41
40
6359
-1779
6278
9
0
71887
-40299
69723
49
28
274257
-40910
260389
166
195
24037
-9003
22673
28
9
9662
-6812
8964
0
0
6
-66
-6
0
0
104619
-42750
102359
18
19
144455
-26797
137516
21
42
14944
450
13986
6
17
70000
-34823
65316
33
11
5794
-749
5197
12
0
4964568 -1246838 4768204 2844 1821

STATE
95325
35365
120592
66511
1429954
166593
189196
29577
42224
339448
595418
48205
59139
452905
147583
127332
78334
182097
217532
55723
160906
361600
749011
341578
60737
178710
53482
60416
189007
79979
429388
62686
1121191
362989
24554
622669
88330
176154
614196
86474
70935
126994
14431
206472
632470
71544
31204
776
236791
442936
48597
262847
11212
12460319

(%) 2
4.9
11.5
4.3
5.6
8.3
6.2
11.4
6.6
7.3
3.9
13.6
7.7
8.1
7.7
4.9
8.3
5.7
9.8
11.5
9.2
6.3
10.1
17.4
11.9
5.5
6.5
11.7
6.3
13.7
12.2
10.7
7.8
11.9
8.2
5.9
11.6
5.6
9.2
10.6
10.1
15.0
6.1
3.5
6.9
5.1
4.9
10.3
2.2
6.3
13.2
7.3
9.2
4.2
8.6

LAST
YEAR
WEEK
AGO UCFE 1
43149
81358
52
15520
27512
123
57995
100856
182
30012
56252
66
353193 1082931 2120
93009
148357
202
41257
155696
61
10135
25057
9
10839
35509
347
240527 306205
207
235341 570581
309
16008
41626
60
23224
52668
136
189848 342660
379
75846
131860
38
35701
107015
87
26909
70335
31
51946
165319
129
100842 204118
74
14384
48532
54
68794
135412
193
51389
297111
138
382585 688206
262
93555
292567
163
31364
54094
72
57243
160677
111
16663
45386
365
21495
56144
35
57886
171556
136
27813
76126
25
153269 340625
217
17857
53540
129
408647 988567
377
117297 343740
267
8518
20100
9
172608 567728
170
33301
74882
54
57425
147518
525
47732
513372
1742
36805
71477
181
14897
62069
23
51473
113460
34
6863
12304
48
90293
188530
104
257814 524763
488
26383
63543
29
9251
26823
10
118
240
6
103607 217627
247
133525 390355
517
11907
38590
49
54460
229724
108
3422
8908
62
4291944 10730211 11562

UCX 1
38
17
88
36
943
133
58
11
11
220
187
44
29
180
56
40
26
133
34
11
128
147
188
80
34
57
33
10
54
9
247
41
361
251
9
397
56
74
379
71
7
79
3
84
954
0
2
0
282
634
50
47
5
7068

ALL
PROGRAMS
EXCLUDING
RAILROAD
RETIREMENT
95415
35505
120862
66613
1433017
166932
189316
29597
42582
339875
595914
48309
59305
453470
147677
127459
78391
182359
217681
55788
161227
361885
749461
341821
60874
178914
53880
60461
189197
80013
429852
62856
1121929
363512
24573
623236
88440
176753
616317
86732
70965
127113
14482
206660
633912
71573
31216
782
237320
444087
48696
263002
11279
12479087

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 APRIL 11, 2020
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State
CO

Change
+58,246

NY
MO

+50,250
+10,668

FL

+10,534

NC
SC

+2,733
+2,574

State Supplied Comment
Layoffs in the health care and social assistance, arts, entertainment, and recreation, and other
services industries. Increase in initial claims due to COVID-19.
Layoffs in the retail trade, health care and social assistance, and construction industries.
Layoffs in the accommodation and food services and administrative, support, waste
management, and remediation services industries.
Layoffs in the construction, manufacturing, retail trade, wholesale trade, accommodation and
food services, and health care and social assistance industries.
Layoffs in the health care and social assistance and manufacturing industries.
No comment.

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State
CA
MI

Change
-263,342
-166,347

NJ
GA

-73,416
-70,551

OH
IL
MD
PA

-66,874
-59,881
-46,592
-42,772

VA
TX
TN
MA
WI
AZ
AL

-42,750
-40,910
-40,299
-35,834
-34,823
-33,897
-29,224

WA
AR
PR
LA
NV
IA
KS
HI
ME

-26,797
-26,457
-24,481
-20,968
-20,644
-20,305
-19,433
-18,384
-17,422

MN
NH
IN
ID

-17,127
-13,929
-13,255
-12,373

State Supplied Comment
Fewer layoffs in the service and retail trade industries.
Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing, retail trade, and accommodation and food services
industries.
No comment.
Fewer layoffs in the accommodation and food services, public administration, retail trade,
health care and social assistance, and administrative, support, waste management, and
remediation services industries.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
Fewer layoffs in the arts, entertainment, and recreation, other services, and agriculture, forestry,
fishing, and hunting industries.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing and accommodation and food services industries.
No comment.
Fewer layoffs in the accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance, retail
trade, and administrative, support, waste management, and remediation services industries.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing, health care and social assistance, accommodation and food
services, educational services, professional, scientific, and technical services, arts,
entertainment, and recreation, administrative, support, waste management, and remediation
services, wholesale trade, and construction industries.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
8

 NE
UT
OR
NM
MT
VT
OK
RI
ND
DE
DC
AK
SD
KY

-10,775
-9,003
-8,207
-7,089
-6,969
-6,812
-6,053
-5,734
-5,623
-5,593
-5,355
-2,583
-1,779
-1,298

No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
No 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 20-691-NAT

Program Contacts:
Kevin Stapleton: (202) 321-2810
Media Contact:
(202) 693-4676

10