News Release

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TRANSMISSION OF MATERIALS IN THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL
8:30 A.M. (Eastern) Thursday, August 27, 2020
REVISION TO SEASONAL ADJUSTMENT FACTORS
Beginning with the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Weekly Claims News Release issued Thursday, September 3, 2020, the
methodology used to seasonally adjust the national initial claims and continued claims will reflect additive factors as opposed to
multiplicative factors.
Seasonal adjustment factors can be either multiplicative or additive. A multiplicative seasonal effect is assumed to be
proportional to the level of the series. A sudden large increase in the level of the series will be accompanied by a proportionally
large seasonal effect. In contrast, an additive seasonal effect is assumed to be unaffected by the level of the series. In times of
relative economic stability, the multiplicative option is generally preferred over the additive option. However, in the presence of
a large level shift in a time series, multiplicative seasonal adjustment factors can result in systematic over- or under-adjustment of
the series; in such cases, additive seasonal adjustment factors are preferred since they tend to more accurately track seasonal
fluctuations in the series and have smaller revisions.
Prior to September 2020, the seasonally adjusted unemployment insurance claims series used multiplicative seasonal adjustment
factors. Starting in September Bureau of Labor Statistics staff, who provide the seasonal adjustment factors, specified these series
as additive. In accordance with the usual practice, the seasonal adjustment models and factors will be reviewed at the beginning
of each calendar year, when prior years of seasonally adjusted estimates will be subject to revision.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending August 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 1,006,000, a decrease of
98,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 2,000 from 1,106,000 to
1,104,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,068,000, a decrease of 107,250 from the previous week's revised average.
The previous week's average was revised down by 500 from 1,175,750 to 1,175,250.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 9.9 percent for the week ending August 15, a
decrease of 0.2 percentage point from the previous week's revised rate. The previous week's rate was revised down by 0.1
from 10.2 to 10.1 percent. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending
August 15 was 14,535,000, a decrease of 223,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was
revised down by 86,000 from 14,844,000 to 14,758,000. The 4-week moving average was 15,215,750, a decrease of
604,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 21,500 from
15,841,250 to 15,819,750.

1

 Millions

Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment
August 1 7, 2019 — August 15, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

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UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 821,591 in the week ending
August 22, a decrease of 67,958 (or -7.6 percent) from the previous week. The seasonal factors had expected an increase
of 12,140 (or 1.4 percent) from the previous week. There were 176,867 initial claims in the comparable week in 2019. In
addition, for the week ending August 22, 51 states reported 607,806 initial claims for Pandemic Unemployment
Assistance.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 9.5 percent during the week ending August 15, a decrease of 0.2
percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs
totaled 13,909,872, a decrease of 272,941 (or -1.9 percent) from the preceding week. The seasonal factors had expected a
decrease of 59,034 (or -0.4 percent) from the previous week. A year earlier the rate was 1.1 percent and the volume was
1,615,803.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending August 8 was 27,017,232, a decrease
of 1,042,323 from the previous week. There were 1,644,315 persons claiming benefits in all programs in the comparable
week in 2019.
During the week ending August 8, Extended Benefits were available in the following 52 states: 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, Tennessee,
Texas, Vermont, the Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

3

 Initial claims for UI benefits filed by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,145 in the week ending August 15, a
decrease of 32 from the prior week. There were 1,029 initial claims filed by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 2
from the preceding week.
There were 13,968 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending August 8, a decrease of
646 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 13,566, a decrease of 346 from the
prior week.
During the week ending August 8, 49 states reported 10,972,770 individuals claiming Pandemic Unemployment
Assistance benefits and 49 states reported 1,407,802 individuals claiming Pandemic Emergency Unemployment
Compensation benefits.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending August 8 were in Hawaii (19.8), Puerto Rico (19.2), Nevada
(17.3), California (16.1), New York (15.4), Connecticut (13.6), Louisiana (13.5), the Virgin Islands (12.8), Georgia
(12.6), and Massachusetts (12.2).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending August 15 were in New Jersey (+11,580), Florida (+11,190),
New York (+9,879), Texas (+9,096), and Tennessee (+3,793), while the largest decreases were in California (-12,155),
Nevada (-6,817), Georgia (-4,236), Puerto Rico (-2,864), and Pennsylvania (-1,510).

4

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

August 22
1,006,000
821,591
1,068,000

August 15
1,104,000
889,549
1,175,250

Change
-98,000
-67,958
-107,250

August 8
971,000
838,734
1,254,750

Prior Year1
215,000
176,867
215,500

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

August 15
14,535,000
13,909,872
15,215,750
9.9%
9.5%

August 8
14,758,000
14,182,813
15,819,750
10.1%
9.7%

Change
-223,000
-272,941
-604,000
-0.2
-0.2

August 1
15,480,000
15,201,491
16,168,000
10.6%
10.4%

Prior Year1
1,699,000
1,615,803
1,699,250
1.2%
1.1%

INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
WEEK ENDING
Pandemic Unemployment
Assistance

August 22

August 15

Change

August 8

607,806

524,986

+82,820

489,639

WEEK ENDING
Federal Employees (UCFE)
Newly Discharged Veterans (UCX)

August 15
1,145
1,029

August 8
1,177
1,031

Change
-32
-2

Prior Year1
509
491

PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN ALL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
WEEK ENDING
Regular State
Federal Employees
Newly Discharged Veterans
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance3
Pandemic Emergency UC4
Extended Benefits5
State Additional Benefits6
STC / Workshare 7
TOTAL8

August 8
14,098,403
13,968
13,566
10,972,770
1,407,802
203,188
2,674
304,861
27,017,232

August 1
15,112,240
14,614
13,912
11,224,774
1,289,125
92,883
2,610
309,397
28,059,555

Change
-1,013,837
-646
-346
-252,004
+118,677
+110,305
+64
-4,536
-1,042,323

Prior Year1
1,616,985
6,923
5,757
NA
NA
0
4,823
9,827
1,644,315

FOOTNOTES
SA - Seasonally Adjusted Data, NSA - Not Seasonally Adjusted Data
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8.

Prior year is comparable to most recent data.
Most recent week used covered employment of 146,125,989 as denominator.
Information on the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program can be found in UIPL 16-20: PUA Program
information
Information on the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program can be found in Unemployment
Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) 17-20: PEUC Program information
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
Totals include PUA Unemployment for the appropriate corresponding week.

5

 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 August 22
Advance
Prior Wk
Change
8,179
11,047
-2,868
4,575
4,731
-156
13,681
12,775
906
5,225
6,351
-1,126
209,516
190,354
19,162
6,418
6,971
-553
6,401
9,432
-3,031
1,527
1,927
-400
1,574
1,979
-405
45,723
72,774
-27,051
54,056
58,099
-4,043
5,981
5,492
489
3,605
3,644
-39
25,333
22,406
2,927
10,778
11,569
-791
6,954
5,997
957
15,836
14,348
1,488
16,034
18,266
-2,232
11,299
14,365
-3,066
1,103
1,332
-229
6,881
9,053
-2,172
17,157
17,184
-27
16,993
20,188
-3,195
10,836
12,081
-1,245
4,073
6,496
-2,423
8,442
10,654
-2,212
2,193
1,960
233
2,704
3,268
-564
11,194
10,938
256
2,465
2,832
-367
19,360
25,417
-6,057
4,676
5,029
-353
63,113
62,510
603
12,880
17,388
-4,508
803
855
-52
18,119
21,760
-3,641
5,130
6,561
-1,431
5,095
5,233
-138
26,955
25,584
1,371
2,280
2,990
-710
3,092
2,683
409
5,524
7,231
-1,707
752
784
-32
10,998
14,413
-3,415
52,318
61,400
-9,082
2,999
2,983
16
646
723
-77
20
227
-207
12,870
15,151
-2,281
20,585
24,005
-3,420
1,891
2,414
-523
13,903
14,834
-931
846
861
-15
821,591
889,549
-67,958

Insured Unemployment For Week Ended August 15
Advance
Prior Wk
Change
46,703
58,275
-11,572
31,173
32,899
-1,726
200,009
211,212
-11,203
44,532
52,946
-8,414
2,869,412
2,806,840
62,572
182,630
197,296
-14,666
230,958
224,521
6,437
36,566
35,186
1,380
66,553
69,640
-3,087
431,646
512,527
-80,881
547,674
555,479
-7,805
116,198
123,135
-6,937
15,151
18,772
-3,621
593,152
604,288
-11,136
169,336
183,083
-13,747
84,248
82,442
1,806
71,819
65,426
6,393
127,573
128,376
-803
242,459
255,068
-12,609
40,768
46,605
-5,837
170,856
180,568
-9,712
413,711
435,742
-22,031
456,032
428,028
28,004
240,086
244,418
-4,332
102,778
95,913
6,865
116,162
132,730
-16,568
25,307
27,840
-2,533
28,707
32,095
-3,388
220,306
240,346
-20,040
46,839
49,836
-2,997
410,349
420,062
-9,713
90,033
93,252
-3,219
1,442,460
1,456,038
-13,578
185,146
218,265
-33,119
19,252
18,072
1,180
319,658
362,896
-43,238
112,140
123,305
-11,165
177,726
169,905
7,821
633,282
593,016
40,266
136,929
164,841
-27,912
48,771
51,095
-2,324
141,777
161,012
-19,235
9,051
8,949
102
199,717
219,023
-19,306
1,112,901
1,101,708
11,193
46,775
51,910
-5,135
29,444
29,962
-518
4,322
4,710
-388
249,735
265,225
-15,490
341,116
299,672
41,444
56,610
54,525
2,085
162,778
173,270
-10,492
10,556
10,568
-12
13,909,872
14,182,813
-272,941

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.

6

 Seasonally Adjusted US Weekly UI Claims (in thousands)

Week Ending
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
April 25, 2020
May 2, 2020
May 9, 2020
May 16, 2020
May 23, 2020
May 30, 2020
June 6, 2020
June 13, 2020
June 20, 2020
June 27, 2020
July 4, 2020
July 11, 2020
July 18, 2020
July 25, 2020
August 1, 2020
August 8, 2020
August 15, 2020
August 22, 2020

Initial
Claims
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
4,442
3,867
3,176
2,687
2,446
2,123
1,897
1,566
1,540
1,482
1,408
1,310
1,308
1,422
1,435
1,191
971
1,104
1,006

Change
from
Prior
Week
-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
-795
-575
-691
-489
-241
-323
-226
-331
-26
-58
-74
-98
-2
114
13
-244
-220
133
-98

Change
from
Insured
Prior
Unemployment Week
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
11,914
4,468
15,819
3,905
18,011
2,192
22,377
4,366
22,548
171
24,912
2,364
20,841
-4,071
21,268
427
20,606
-662
20,289
-317
19,231
-1,058
18,760
-471
17,760
-1,000
17,304
-456
16,151
-1,153
16,951
800
16,090
-861
15,480
-610
14,758
-722
14,535
-223

4-Week
Average
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
5,790.25
5,040.25
4,180.50
3,543.00
3,044.00
2,608.00
2,288.25
2,008.00
1,781.50
1,621.25
1,499.00
1,435.00
1,377.00
1,362.00
1,368.75
1,339.00
1,254.75
1,175.25
1,068.00

7

4-Week
Average
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
6,050.75
9,559.50
13,297.50
17,030.25
19,688.75
21,962.00
22,669.50
22,392.25
21,906.75
20,751.00
20,348.50
19,721.50
19,010.00
18,263.75
17,493.75
17,041.50
16,624.00
16,168.00
15,819.75
15,215.75

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
2.1
5.1
8.2
10.9
12.4
15.4
15.5
17.1
14.3
14.6
14.1
13.9
13.2
12.9
12.2
11.8
11.1
11.6
11.0
10.6
10.1
9.9

 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance 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

PUA Initial Claims Filed During Week Ended August 22
Advance
Prior Wk
Change
1,584
2,040
-456
311
268
43
39,843
19,226
20,617
15,381
13,336
2,045
259,735
173,424
86,311
16,417
11,809
4,608
1,231
1,388
-157
166
225
-59
237
251
-14
8,418
10,212
-1,794
6,498
6,813
-315
2,744
3,241
-497
216
306
-90
4,169
3,477
692
6,457
6,755
-298
1,122
1,016
106
15,189
13,625
1,564
2,884
2,454
430
5,346
5,419
-73
1,344
1,154
190
3,338
3,876
-538
12,617
12,282
335
14,061
13,419
642
0
0
0
1,698
2,743
-1,045
1,558
1,561
-3
2,151
1,349
802
1,175
1,178
-3
10,871
12,356
-1,485
438
1,478
-1,040
11,407
18,555
-7,148
1,597
1,689
-92
30,677
31,846
-1,169
8,261
10,360
-2,099
741
780
-39
13,544
14,963
-1,419
1,072
985
87
2,563
3,066
-503
36,352
41,264
-4,912
6,412
7,035
-623
20,405
24,574
-4,169
5,338
6,308
-970
122
105
17
4,434
4,862
-428
16,085
19,711
-3,626
952
817
135
56
73
-17
221
154
67
3,739
3,729
10
4,286
4,747
-461
0
0
0
2,124
2,520
-396
219
162
57
607,806
524,986
82,820

PUA Continued Claims For Week Ended Aug 8
Aug 8
Aug 1
Change
35,635
45,214
-9,579
10,743
13,256
-2,513
279,232
284,043
-4,811
119,680
127,158
-7,478
3,074,568
3,071,115
3,453
79,038
74,592
4,446
58,351
57,864
487
8,082
8,416
-334
13,746
13,778
-32
0
0
0
255,618
261,104
-5,486
95,079
76,557
18,522
14,963
13,726
1,237
119,766
138,422
-18,656
135,014
129,766
5,248
13,447
14,292
-845
221,885
147,456
74,429
29,485
51,597
-22,112
132,403
152,053
-19,650
25,185
26,792
-1,607
229,469
230,961
-1,492
489,525
399,830
89,695
689,337
845,286
-155,949
48,643
55,042
-6,399
36,604
51,467
-14,863
58,901
55,471
3,430
33,150
36,153
-3,003
24,472
24,211
261
109,617
117,349
-7,732
18,546
19,321
-775
408,172
396,687
11,485
37,087
44,620
-7,533
1,306,485
1,178,162
128,323
168,171
169,926
-1,755
6,253
3,547
2,706
400,193
410,831
-10,638
0
0
0
87,001
116,739
-29,738
909,735
961,675
-51,940
278,030
448,143
-170,113
53,449
56,264
-2,815
46,018
67,987
-21,969
3,762
5,134
-1,372
136,022
127,072
8,950
249,968
276,247
-26,279
8,797
7,276
1,521
10,817
11,270
-453
0
0
0
216,068
197,841
18,227
125,986
134,974
-8,988
0
0
0
58,431
65,862
-7,431
2,141
2,225
-84
10,972,770
11,224,774
-252,004

Note: Information on the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program can be found in UIPL 16-20:
PUA Program information . Backdated claims data may be included in these figures.

8

 Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation Claims - Not Seasonally Adjusted
STATE

August 8

PEUC Claims Filed During Weeks Ended:
August 1
Change
July 25

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

78,944
4,244
13,951
20,251
394,359
11,128
12,512
2,231
2,167
51,568
0
0
6,132
33,974
7,025
14,520
5,143
0
3,040
5,804
10,294
44,618
42,520
26,649
7,324
16,832
3,464
2,692
19,798
957
52,722
4,864
70,896
208,596
4,139
17,181
0
15,300
42,023
5,089
4,989
23,612
320
12,146
17,924
7,934
1,254
56
42,600
5,442
4,758
22,182
1,634
1,407,802

77,381
4,066
13,287
17,975
290,941
17,003
11,870
2,509
2,208
47,118
0
0
5,639
31,896
7,311
14,797
0
0
3,179
5,253
10,185
42,630
42,575
24,636
8,753
12,429
3,232
2,362
18,018
7,365
52,447
5,096
93,823
201,964
3,882
17,981
0
14,274
37,975
5,409
4,446
19,827
363
9,539
18,850
7,186
1,240
89
37,666
5,353
4,892
20,559
1,646
1,289,125

1,563
178
664
2,276
103,418
-5,875
642
-278
-41
4,450
0
0
493
2,078
-286
-277
5,143
0
-139
551
109
1,988
-55
2,013
-1,429
4,403
232
330
1,780
-6,408
275
-232
-22,927
6,632
257
-800
0
1,026
4,048
-320
543
3,785
-43
2,607
-926
748
14
-33
4,934
89
-134
1,623
-12
118,677

74,759
4,158
13,541
14,907
270,747
7,262
0
2,458
2,204
50,374
0
0
5,679
34,499
7,372
12,903
2,497
0
3,399
4,656
11,282
40,762
39,866
24,110
7,689
13,114
3,268
2,219
15,617
318
54,847
5,171
89,643
199,881
3,967
18,753
0
13,477
42,208
5,381
3,969
18,505
338
6,872
15,922
6,580
1,234
96
42,350
5,252
1,230
16,425
1,494
1,223,255

July 18
67,880
3,419
12,904
10,525
248,098
12,910
8,969
2,310
2,178
53,423
0
0
5,442
30,690
7,525
13,876
2,421
0
3,340
4,012
10,984
38,508
31,283
23,053
6,873
12,768
3,048
2,173
14,855
278
57,651
4,941
84,708
189,498
3,776
18,749
0
12,249
37,497
5,884
3,404
15,803
311
6,216
16,318
6,121
1,264
0
37,841
6,081
4,435
7,724
1,476
1,155,692

Note: Information on the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program can be found in
Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) 17-20: PEUC Program information

9

 Extended Benefits (EB) Claims - Not Seasonally Adjusted
STATE

August 8

EB Claims Filed During Weeks Ended:
August 1

Change

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

0
668
285
1,279
70,798
42
4,181
296
0
299
0
7
199
34,296
1,868
2,106
0
0
735
10
1,979
0
1
4,607
1,088
2,976
329
90
1,477
264
16,345
930
26,009
6,298
249
4,970
0
1,979
14,623
985
617
2,968
0
1,115
0
78
274
0
0
0
6
12
5
207,343

0
622
186
1,023
22,372
33
3,765
434
0
55
0
3
149
13,461
1,725
2,112
0
0
594
7
1,275
0
0
4,049
987
2,443
256
78
1,104
240
14,128
603
0
5,545
194
3,861
0
1,661
9,245
341
489
2,590
0
918
0
0
55
0
0
0
7
8
4
96,622

0
46
99
256
48,426
9
416
-138
0
244
0
4
50
20,835
143
-6
0
0
141
3
704
0
1
558
101
533
73
12
373
24
2,217
327
26,009
753
55
1,109
0
318
5,378
644
128
378
0
197
0
78
219
0
0
0
-1
4
1
110,721

Note: Information on the EB program can be found here: EB Program information

10

 INITIAL CLAIMS FILED DURING WEEK ENDED
AUGUST 15

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
11,047
4,731
12,775
6,351
190,354
6,971
9,432
1,927
1,979
72,774
58,099
5,492
3,644
22,406
11,569
5,997
14,348
18,266
14,365
1,332
9,053
17,184
20,188
12,081
6,496
10,654
1,960
3,268
10,938
2,832
25,417
5,029
62,510
17,388
855
21,760
6,561
5,233
25,584
2,990
2,683
7,231
784
14,413
61,400
2,983
723
227
15,151
24,005
2,414
14,834
861
889,549

CHANGE FROM
LAST YEAR
WEEK AGO UCFE 1 UCX 1
1,580
8,924
21
14
112
4,033
20
6
1,120
9,261
17
13
443
4,929
2
4
-12,155 154,924 238
207
740
5,500
18
26
2,001
6,720
23
1
167
1,460
2
5
182
1,518
22
1
11,190 66,765
27
19
-4,236 54,186
55
23
196
4,481
20
24
394
2,889
1
1
-528
15,415
6
10
945
9,526
18
12
1,106
4,192
10
4
3,139 13,176
3
2
801
16,031
3
2
3,234 12,371
26
25
-402
969
0
1
161
6,253
28
30
2,455 13,145
18
19
1,191 16,132
20
6
2,994
9,906
6
6
1,044
5,464
5
1
1,639
8,043
2
4
318
1,466
5
2
544
2,746
5
3
-6,817 8,851
2
2
108
2,368
2
3
11,580 17,876
36
28
-512
4,348
3
2
9,879 50,422
25
37
3,060 14,374
34
79
79
644
2
2
678
17,101
8
35
874
4,962
16
11
-1,272 2,261
16
6
-1,510 14,427
139
38
-2,864 1,741
3
1
-641
1,811
0
1
1,335
5,358
7
16
-189
626
23
1
3,793 12,520
30
26
9,096 49,706
125
203
102
2,157
14
5
-181
402
1
2
186
194
0
0
1,886 12,914
4
13
1,014 18,973
18
32
433
1,612
2
4
577
11,465
14
10
-254
625
0
1
50,815 718,163 1,145 1,029

INSURED UNEMPLOYMENT FOR WEEK ENDED
AUGUST 8
ALL PROGRAMS
EXCLUDING
RAILROAD
CHANGE FROM
RETIREMENT
LAST
YEAR
STATE (%) 2 WEEK
AGO UCFE 1 UCX 1
58,275
3.0 -12,137
41,640
103
78
58,456
32,899 10.7 -1,543
28,013
146
60
33,105
211,212 7.3
-8,247
182,593
359
261
211,832
52,946
4.4
-9,456
40,996
113
56
53,115
2,806,840 16.1 -154,348 2,512,194 1,798 2,020
2,810,658
197,296 7.4
-1,406
180,531
186
368
197,850
224,521 13.6 -6,686
188,458
183
153
224,857
35,186
7.9
-840
29,914
30
45
35,261
69,640 12.0 -1,247
62,249
894
7
70,541
512,527 5.9 -55,460
470,674
313
296
513,136
555,479 12.6 -16,976
530,690
706
489
556,674
123,135 19.8
-779
116,758
274
186
123,595
18,772
2.5
-1,491
14,221
11
23
18,806
604,288 10.2 -12,843
515,757
571
277
605,136
183,083 6.0 -16,253
169,656
116
168
183,367
82,442
5.4
-9,658
67,136
132
59
82,633
65,426
4.8
-5,049
57,204
81
71
65,578
128,376 6.8 -13,435
111,556
218
267
128,861
255,068 13.5 -44,906
238,281
146
73
255,287
46,605
7.7
-4,280
42,925
38
38
46,681
180,568 7.1 -13,823
151,267
245
218
181,031
435,742 12.2 -20,806
378,828
281
205
436,228
428,028 9.9 -107,190 384,591
153
137
428,318
244,418 8.5 -15,107
218,989
180
161
244,759
95,913
8.6 -42,849
86,625
210
67
96,190
132,730 4.8 -14,287
111,789
98
111
132,939
27,840
6.1
257
23,315
71
35
27,946
32,095
3.3
-7,049
28,292
29
29
32,153
240,346 17.3 -95,622
223,238
106
165
240,617
49,836
7.6
-5,403
46,349
18
13
49,867
420,062 10.4 -6,457
325,140
322
485
420,869
93,252 11.6
-574
85,014
274
108
93,634
1,456,038 15.4 16,111
1,324,828
497
730
1,457,265
218,265 4.9 -24,548
197,778
437
649
219,351
18,072
4.4
-2,411
16,167
212
22
18,306
362,896 6.8 -15,261
320,646
170
369
363,435
123,305 7.9
-6,666
108,598
124
157
123,586
169,905 8.8
-5,248
145,450
332
128
170,365
593,016 10.2 -80,077
481,214
1,106 507
594,629
164,841 19.2 -21,398
146,404
135
81
165,057
51,095 10.8 -4,870
42,760
41
27
51,163
161,012 7.7
-9,971
145,453
59
116
161,187
8,949
2.1
-5,766
7,859
226
5
9,180
219,023 6.6
-5,727
201,355
125
142
219,290
1,101,708 8.9 -119,832 978,101
1,012 2,401
1,105,121
51,910
3.5
-5,958
45,550
56
38
52,004
29,962
9.9
-1,821
27,154
24
3
29,989
4,710
12.8
-338
4,236
2
0
4,712
265,225 7.1
815
245,425
432
513
266,170
299,672 8.9
-8,896
256,133
367
762
300,801
54,525
8.2
-3,238
46,314
70
73
54,668
173,270 6.1
-6,876
148,183
118
108
173,496
10,568
3.9
-752
8,931
18
6
10,592
14,182,813 9.7 -1,018,678 12,563,422 13,968 13,566
14,210,347

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.
11

 UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED AUGUST 15, 2020
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State
NJ
FL
NY

Change
+11,580
+11,190
+9,879

TX

+9,096

TN

+3,793

LA
KS
NC

+3,234
+3,139
+3,060

MN
MA
CT

+2,994
+2,455
+2,001

VA
MO

+1,886
+1,639

AL

+1,580

SC
MI
AZ
IA

+1,335
+1,191
+1,120
+1,106

MS
WA

+1,044
+1,014

State Supplied Comment
No comment.
Layoffs in the construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade, and service industries.
Layoffs in the accommodations and food services, retail trade, and health care and social
assistance industries.
Layoffs in the accommodation and food services, manufacturing, educational services, mining,
health care and social assistance, construction, and administrative and support and waste
management and remediation services industries.
Layoffs in the educational services, public administration, art, entertainment, and recreation,
and wholesale trade industries.
No comment.
No comment.
Layoffs in the administrative and support and waste management and remediation services,
accommodations and food services, and educational services industries.
No comment.
No comment.
Layoffs in the retail trade, accommodation and food services, and health care and social
assistance industries.
Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
Layoffs in the accommodation and food services, and health care and social assistance
industries.
Layoffs in the administrative and support and waste management and remediation services,
accommodations and food services, health care and social assistance, construction, and
transportation and warehousing industries.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
Layoffs in the manufacturing, accommodations and food services, administrative and support
and waste management and remediation services, and educational services industries.
No comment.
No comment.

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

Change
-12,155
-6,817
-4,236

PR
PA

-2,864
-1,510

OR

-1,272

State Supplied Comment
Fewer layoffs in the service industry.
No comment.
Fewer layoffs in the health care and social assistance, accommodations and food services, and
administrative and support and waste management and remediation services industries.
No comment.
Fewer layoffs in the accommodation and food services, manufacturing, construction, and
transportation and warehousing industries.
No comment.

12

 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 20-1637-NAT

Program Contacts:
Thomas Stengle: (202) 693-2991
Media Contact:
(202) 693-4676

13