News Release

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TRANSMISSION OF MATERIALS IN THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL
8:30 A.M. (Eastern) Thursday, September 17, 2020

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending September 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 860,000, a decrease of
33,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 9,000 from 884,000 to
893,000. The 4-week moving average was 912,000, a decrease of 61,000 from the previous week's revised average. The
previous week's average was revised up by 2,250 from 970,750 to 973,000.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 8.6 percent for the week ending September 5, a
decrease of 0.7 percentage point from the previous week's revised rate. The previous week's rate was revised up by 0.1
from 9.2 to 9.3 percent. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending
September 5 was 12,628,000, a decrease of 916,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level
was revised up 159,000 from 13,385,000 to 13,544,000. The 4-week moving average was 13,489,000, a decrease of
532,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 39,750 from
13,982,000 to 14,021,750.

 UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 790,021 in the week ending
September 12, a decrease of 75,974 (or -8.8 percent) from the previous week. The seasonal factors had expected a
decrease of 42,594 (or -4.9 percent) from the previous week. There were 173,134 initial claims in the comparable week
in 2019. In addition, for the week ending September 12, 52 states reported 658,737 initial claims for Pandemic
Unemployment Assistance.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 8.4 percent during the week ending September 5, a decrease of
0.7 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state
programs totaled 12,321,395, a decrease of 1,034,052 (or -7.7 percent) from the preceding week. The seasonal factors
had expected a decrease of 117,820 (or -0.9 percent) from the previous week. A year earlier the rate was 1.0 percent and
the volume was 1,465,554.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending August 29 was 29,768,326, an increase
of 98,456 from the previous week. There were 1,498,917 persons claiming benefits in all programs in the comparable
week in 2019.
During the week ending August 29, Extended Benefits were available in the following 51 states: Alabama, Alaska,
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii,
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, Utah, Vermont, the Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

 Initial claims for UI benefits filed by former Federal civilian employees totaled 953 in the week ending September 5, a
decrease of 85 from the prior week. There were 885 initial claims filed by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 29
from the preceding week.
There were 13,544 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending August 29, a decrease of
97 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 13,977, an increase of 964 from the
prior week.
During the week ending August 29, 50 states reported 14,467,064 individuals claiming Pandemic Unemployment
Assistance benefits and 49 states reported 1,527,166 individuals claiming Pandemic Emergency Unemployment
Compensation benefits.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending August 29 were in Hawaii (20.3), California (17.3), Nevada
(15.6), New York (15.0), Puerto Rico (14.1), Louisiana (13.6), Connecticut (11.9), Georgia (11.9), District of Columbia
(11.3), and Massachusetts (11.0).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending September 5 were in California (+23,841), Texas (+8,618),
Louisiana (+8,375), New Jersey (+2,402), and Washington (+2,173), while the largest decreases were in Kentucky
(-7,219), Florida (-5,334), Pennsylvania (-2,257), Kansas (-1,915), and Michigan (-994).

 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

September 12
860,000
790,021
912,000

September 5
893,000
865,995
973,000

Change
-33,000
-75,974
-61,000

August 29
884,000
837,008
992,500

Prior Year1
211,000
173,134
213,250

September 5
12,628,000
12,321,395
13,489,000
8.6%
8.4%

August 29
13,544,000
13,355,447
14,021,750
9.3%
9.1%

Change
-916,000
-1,034,052
-532,750
-0.7
-0.7

August 22
13,292,000
13,142,717
14,505,750
9.1%
9.0%

Prior Year1
1,675,000
1,465,554
1,685,000
1.2%
1.0%

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

September 12

September 5

Change

August 29

658,737

868,314

-209,577

751,246

September 5
953
885

August 29
1,038
914

Change
-85
-29

Prior Year1
469
519

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 29
13,283,582
13,544
13,977
14,467,064
1,527,166
220,505
2,405
240,083
29,768,326

August 22
13,067,660
13,641
13,013
14,656,297
1,422,483
241,008
2,337
253,431
29,669,870

Change
+215,922
-97
+964
-189,233
+104,683
-20,503
+68
-13,348
+98,456

Prior Year1
1,473,997
6,545
5,259
NA
NA
0
4,677
8,439
1,498,917

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.

 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 September 12
Advance
Prior Wk
Change
8,351
8,901
-550
3,889
3,817
72
12,756
11,343
1,413
4,090
5,624
-1,534
230,225
243,404
-13,179
4,901
6,031
-1,130
5,234
4,741
493
1,489
1,629
-140
1,282
1,493
-211
33,821
40,256
-6,435
42,080
50,320
-8,240
7,466
7,464
2
3,496
3,804
-308
23,339
25,478
-2,139
13,851
11,255
2,596
4,962
5,252
-290
15,365
13,094
2,271
8,445
9,285
-840
15,309
24,566
-9,257
1,383
1,150
233
7,155
7,190
-35
17,857
18,656
-799
17,392
17,844
-452
11,546
11,038
508
4,108
4,363
-255
7,892
10,891
-2,999
2,848
2,911
-63
2,622
2,552
70
10,534
7,951
2,583
2,072
2,482
-410
18,845
22,750
-3,905
3,651
3,800
-149
62,950
64,734
-1,784
12,606
14,147
-1,541
813
947
-134
15,330
18,091
-2,761
4,735
6,602
-1,867
4,386
5,228
-842
20,951
22,626
-1,675
1,121
1,374
-253
2,981
3,251
-270
4,283
5,085
-802
346
585
-239
10,771
12,310
-1,539
49,644
65,291
-15,647
2,298
2,593
-295
575
731
-156
11
327
-316
11,621
11,135
486
22,580
24,459
-1,879
1,741
2,113
-372
11,412
12,238
-826
610
793
-183
790,021
865,995
-75,974

Insured Unemployment For Week Ended September 5
Advance
Prior Wk
Change
33,489
44,546
-11,057
25,281
27,536
-2,255
188,343
200,184
-11,841
33,523
42,795
-9,272
2,756,188
3,012,587
-256,399
158,252
162,261
-4,009
167,283
196,677
-29,394
32,286
32,327
-41
63,911
65,456
-1,545
354,720
410,406
-55,686
504,058
523,143
-19,085
124,043
126,256
-2,213
10,413
13,021
-2,608
496,644
552,436
-55,792
162,009
158,742
3,267
65,653
70,953
-5,300
68,056
56,819
11,237
105,794
119,899
-14,105
231,912
256,184
-24,272
29,378
36,200
-6,822
158,386
165,604
-7,218
369,437
394,848
-25,411
362,697
439,244
-76,547
210,906
212,993
-2,087
80,846
95,012
-14,166
83,355
97,082
-13,727
22,008
24,177
-2,169
21,404
26,145
-4,741
192,928
216,187
-23,259
39,497
42,956
-3,459
364,386
388,233
-23,847
84,893
87,129
-2,236
1,296,142
1,411,187
-115,045
142,063
169,754
-27,691
15,164
13,723
1,441
280,209
331,317
-51,108
98,380
118,719
-20,339
148,933
154,413
-5,480
544,260
582,821
-38,561
120,341
121,281
-940
46,302
44,829
1,473
95,996
115,428
-19,432
6,511
9,165
-2,654
171,486
192,911
-21,425
985,958
1,043,117
-57,159
30,828
34,778
-3,950
24,872
25,575
-703
4,150
3,746
404
200,017
217,485
-17,468
319,030
271,917
47,113
49,662
47,742
1,920
130,617
138,621
-8,004
8,495
8,880
-385
12,321,395
13,355,447
-1,034,052

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.

 Seasonally Adjusted US Weekly UI Claims (in thousands)

Week Ending
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
August 29, 2020
September 5, 2020
September 12, 2020

Initial
Claims
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
1,011
884
893
860

Change
from
Prior
Week
-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
-93
-127
9
-33

4-Week
Average
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
1,069.25
992.50
973.00
912.00

Change
from
Insured
Prior
Unemployment Week
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
14,759
-721
14,492
-267
13,292
-1,200
13,544
252
12,628
-916

4-Week
Average
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
15,820.00
15,205.25
14,505.75
14,021.75
13,489.00

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
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
9.1
9.3
8.6

 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 September 12
Advance
Prior Wk
Change
1,301
1,261
40
263
347
-84
165,612
101,328
64,284
6,712
8,173
-1,461
204,690
440,882
-236,192
1,553
2,216
-663
942
1,739
-797
91
102
-11
149
2,720
-2,571
6,924
8,331
-1,407
5,324
5,474
-150
2,753
2,776
-23
45
53
-8
3,869
4,186
-317
12,905
9,722
3,183
798
933
-135
12,464
12,362
102
2,064
2,312
-248
7,564
7,651
-87
983
1,731
-748
3,698
3,008
690
11,643
11,424
219
18,704
11,659
7,045
408
303
105
1,822
1,603
219
860
972
-112
2,679
2,679
0
1,339
1,081
258
10,318
9,832
486
523
373
150
9,048
18,408
-9,360
1,293
1,298
-5
31,284
33,438
-2,154
7,173
8,068
-895
966
748
218
12,796
14,050
-1,254
965
1,080
-115
3,621
6,167
-2,546
38,438
33,472
4,966
10,844
21,176
-10,332
14,045
28,962
-14,917
3,556
4,142
-586
37
70
-33
4,820
4,623
197
17,742
24,380
-6,638
701
762
-61
38
52
-14
116
113
3
3,126
3,101
25
7,322
4,979
2,343
0
0
0
1,668
1,782
-114
138
210
-72
658,737
868,314
-209,577

PUA Continued Claims For Week Ended Aug 29
Aug 29
Aug 22
Change
37,518
32,578
4,940
11,782
12,056
-274
329,175
311,234
17,941
80,091
96,643
-16,552
6,387,501
6,979,456
-591,955
62,835
64,676
-1,841
66,210
58,854
7,356
5,741
7,614
-1,873
14,417
14,233
184
0
0
0
252,628
259,734
-7,106
101,539
89,425
12,114
12,373
13,041
-668
114,708
117,624
-2,916
217,512
169,475
48,037
12,964
13,254
-290
166,996
155,973
11,023
52,863
41,340
11,523
134,051
133,263
788
21,995
21,999
-4
228,233
0
228,233
463,260
459,204
4,056
764,147
716,758
47,389
48,112
45,055
3,057
44,609
32,181
12,428
58,496
59,318
-822
56,369
60,773
-4,404
22,525
21,572
953
99,397
104,592
-5,195
17,699
18,927
-1,228
385,948
395,276
-9,328
38,818
37,276
1,542
1,420,707
1,539,835
-119,128
161,001
154,015
6,986
5,585
5,512
73
377,085
392,638
-15,553
12,697
6,945
5,752
101,236
86,965
14,271
770,248
817,299
-47,051
343,725
186,879
156,846
63,723
62,402
1,321
64,209
65,558
-1,349
3,148
2,997
151
150,570
143,407
7,163
286,231
250,946
35,285
6,974
7,718
-744
9,917
10,173
-256
0
0
0
205,254
207,470
-2,216
122,915
122,143
772
0
0
0
49,182
47,747
1,435
2,145
2,244
-99
14,467,064
14,656,297
-189,233

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.

 Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation Claims - Not Seasonally Adjusted
STATE

August 29

PEUC Claims Filed During Weeks Ended:
August 22
Change
August 15

August 8

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

78,755
5,597
18,228
21,596
369,443
25,732
12,575
2,010
2,107
0
0
0
7,154
32,489
7,393
16,670
9,903
0
3,049
7,714
11,381
44,668
55,402
32,149
11,045
34,654
4,369
2,538
25,898
1,041
55,831
6,223
83,372
226,731
4,332
18,374
8,912
18,250
46,375
4,780
6,571
48,193
394
26,798
29,051
8,318
1,895
5
52,800
6,414
4,808
23,216
1,963
1,527,166

79,413
4,878
16,536
21,825
355,514
16,593
12,288
2,172
2,148
0
0
0
6,985
32,692
7,339
18,683
8,468
0
3,065
7,076
10,829
43,141
44,737
29,916
7,730
28,791
4,079
2,704
23,760
956
54,589
5,522
75,994
214,678
4,221
17,570
5,561
16,712
44,477
4,927
6,008
39,692
442
19,075
29,168
8,377
1,589
16
47,405
5,222
4,789
22,312
1,819
1,422,483

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

-658
719
1,692
-229
13,929
9,139
287
-162
-41
0
0
0
169
-203
54
-2,013
1,435
0
-16
638
552
1,527
10,665
2,233
3,315
5,863
290
-166
2,138
85
1,242
701
7,378
12,053
111
804
3,351
1,538
1,898
-147
563
8,501
-48
7,723
-117
-59
306
-11
5,395
1,192
19
904
144
104,683

79,702
4,783
15,531
21,879
344,378
20,793
12,559
2,147
2,114
34,703
0
0
6,448
32,245
7,084
17,132
6,819
0
3,116
6,205
10,567
43,071
51,511
28,211
6,776
22,113
3,843
2,702
21,635
962
52,895
5,285
71,910
210,657
4,198
17,191
0
15,962
42,210
4,712
5,409
30,639
355
15,486
21,001
8,105
1,324
79
43,794
5,064
4,819
21,502
1,688
1,393,314

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

 Extended Benefits (EB) 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

August 29
0
978
395
1,397
46,948
47
5,254
157
7
404
0
9
26
18,653
2,654
2,779
913
0
1,149
801
3,161
9,442
1
5,796
1,412
4,005
534
165
3,187
353
21,192
1,497
32,874
9,254
331
7,812
0
3,094
16,228
412
1,193
4,057
0
1,859
0
638
482
1
0
8,789
17
19
129
220,505

EB Claims Filed During Weeks Ended:
August 22
0
895
356
1,613
82,722
51
4,880
178
11
393
0
8
232
17,055
2,440
2,475
501
0
1,015
556
2,848
4,220
12
5,378
1,308
3,740
504
122
2,889
332
19,141
1,333
30,662
8,090
346
7,039
0
2,667
19,418
408
1,065
3,410
0
1,643
0
475
396
0
0
8,017
16
22
126
241,008

Change
0
83
39
-216
-35,774
-4
374
-21
-4
11
0
1
-206
1,598
214
304
412
0
134
245
313
5,222
-11
418
104
265
30
43
298
21
2,051
164
2,212
1,164
-15
773
0
427
-3,190
4
128
647
0
216
0
163
86
1
0
772
1
-3
3
-20,503

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

 INITIAL CLAIMS FILED DURING WEEK ENDED
SEPTEMBER 5
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
8,901
3,817
11,343
5,624
243,404
6,031
4,741
1,629
1,493
40,256
50,320
7,464
3,804
25,478
11,255
5,252
13,094
9,285
24,566
1,150
7,190
18,656
17,844
11,038
4,363
10,891
2,911
2,552
7,951
2,482
22,750
3,800
64,734
14,147
947
18,091
6,602
5,228
22,626
1,374
3,251
5,085
585
12,310
65,291
2,593
731
327
11,135
24,459
2,113
12,238
793
865,995

LAST YEAR
WEEK AGO UCFE 1 UCX 1
390
7,132
10
11
-240
3,130
15
3
-362
8,007
8
10
287
3,502
3
2
23,841 212,633 207
167
168
4,566
11
25
-663
2,594
14
2
52
1,202
2
4
25
1,112
26
0
-5,334 35,243
12
16
-963
46,675
63
33
716
6,384
18
22
118
3,071
3
3
-716
18,298
9
6
476
9,269
7
7
-662
3,465
5
2
-1,915 11,805
1
0
-7,219
7,497
2
2
8,375 22,883
23
22
-98
762
1
1
-81
4,688
29
15
88
14,401
33
15
-994
13,856
17
4
743
8,625
6
5
-102
3,431
0
1
382
8,775
6
2
379
2,362
10
6
91
2,084
6
3
-81
5,906
1
2
-19
2,139
5
1
2,402 16,092
28
34
-74
3,120
3
5
1,368 53,165
12
30
850
11,486
32
61
143
714
1
0
-695
13,663
9
28
583
5,150
14
15
114
2,046
27
6
-2,257 12,792
104
36
-451
201
1
1
-429
2,611
2
0
85
3,561
14
15
-45
482
4
0
-566
10,186
10
30
8,618 53,791
81
192
6
1,771
28
6
-18
460
0
0
-36
298
0
2
830
8,991
8
4
2,173 19,399
11
23
87
1,194
1
0
-219
8,412
9
5
-164
571
1
0
28,987 705,653 953
885

INSURED UNEMPLOYMENT FOR WEEK ENDED
AUGUST 29
CHANGE FROM
ALL PROGRAMS
EXCLUDING
LAST
YEAR
RAILROAD
STATE (%) 2 WEEK
AGO UCFE 1 UCX 1 RETIREMENT
44,546
2.3 -4,251
29,221
93
67
44,706
27,536
8.9 -1,988
22,995
120
59
27,715
200,184 6.9 -2,532
174,198
357
242
200,783
42,795
3.6 -1,769
32,573
91
45
42,931
3,012,587 17.3 442,582 2,743,017 2,085 2,544
3,017,216
162,261 6.1 -15,561 146,801
178
432
162,871
196,677 11.9 -45,516 166,458
168
109
196,954
32,327
7.2
353
28,056
19
34
32,380
65,456 11.3 -1,414
58,725
886
10
66,352
410,406 4.7 -45,181 370,370
263
246
410,915
523,143 11.9 -12,263 498,569
589
499
524,231
126,256 20.3
156
119,897
331
212
126,799
13,021
1.7 -1,402
9,140
8
22
13,051
552,436 9.3 -6,215
474,564
570
321
553,327
158,742 5.2 -5,827
145,794
139
155
159,036
70,953
4.6 -4,924
58,242
118
83
71,154
56,819
4.2 -2,262
49,180
83
64
56,966
119,899 6.3 3,299
113,276
118
241
120,258
256,184 13.6 6,574
240,969
186
69
256,439
36,200
6.0 -2,719
33,104
43
26
36,269
165,604 6.5 -10,365 139,063
227
194
166,025
394,848 11.0 -12,528 343,479
271
196
395,315
439,244 10.2 37,444
403,298
133
145
439,522
212,993 7.4 -6,564
189,835
146
158
213,297
95,012
8.6 10,532
87,337
129
45
95,186
97,082
3.5 -8,236
81,188
83
87
97,252
24,177
5.3 -1,059
20,620
70
39
24,286
26,145
2.7
-112
23,053
45
18
26,208
216,187 15.6 -5,412
198,841
120
154
216,461
42,956
6.5 -1,622
40,005
10
12
42,978
388,233 9.6 -22,597 295,255
314
425
388,972
87,129 10.8 -996
79,797
399
92
87,620
1,411,187 15.0 4,252 1,278,832
410
784
1,412,381
169,754 3.8 -8,265
151,150
316
556
170,626
13,723
3.3 -1,187
11,907
109
16
13,848
331,317 6.2 -11,733 293,570
180
371
331,868
118,719 7.6
-852
104,508
115
134
118,968
154,413 8.0 -4,067
131,366
249
131
154,793
582,821 10.0 21,156
483,885
1,073 551
584,445
121,281 14.1 -22,511 104,426
170
72
121,523
44,829
9.4 -2,576
38,023
65
25
44,919
115,428 5.5 -12,798 101,861
47
100
115,575
9,165
2.2 -1,613
8,353
228
10
9,403
192,911 5.8 -6,497
177,022
130
139
193,180
1,043,117 8.4 25,757
927,082
997 2,620
1,046,734
34,778
2.3 -5,303
28,881
48
33
34,859
25,575
8.4 -1,395
23,645
4
3
25,582
3,746
10.2 -872
3,288
2
2
3,750
217,485 5.8 -15,982 200,069
417
477
218,379
271,917 8.0 -5,714
231,252
356
761
273,034
47,742
7.2 -2,150
40,098
64
53
47,859
138,621 4.9 -12,279 115,615
159
87
138,867
8,880
3.3
-266
7,495
13
7
8,900
13,355,447 9.1 212,730 11,879,248 13,544 13,977
13,382,968

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.

 UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED SEPTEMBER 5, 2020

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State
CA
TX

Change
+23,841
+8,618

LA
NJ
WA
NY

+8,375
+2,402
+2,173
+1,368

State Supplied Comment
Layoffs in the service industry.
Layoffs in the manufacturing, retail trade, accommodation and food services, and wholesale
trade industries.
No comment.
No comment.
No comment.
Layoffs in the information, educational services, and professional, scientific, and technical
services industries.

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State
KY
FL

Change
-7,219
-5,334

PA

-2,257

KS

-1,915

State Supplied Comment
No comment.
Fewer layoffs in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, construction, manufacturing,
wholesale trade, retail trade, and service industries.
Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing, accommodation and food services, construction, and
administrative and support and waste management and remediation services industries.
No comment.

 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 20-1770-NAT

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