Following the government shutdown that had delayed previous data releases, the U.S. Department of Labor today released data for unemployment insurance weekly claims.*
Seasonally Adjusted Data
In the week ending November 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 220,000, a decrease of 8,000 from the previous week’s level. The 4-week moving average was 224,250, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week’s average.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.3 percent for the week ending November 8, unchanged from the previous week’s rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending November 8 was 1,974,000, an increase of 28,000 from the previous week’s level. This is the highest level for insured unemployment since November 6, 2021 when it was 2,041,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,960,250, an increase of 6,750 from the previous week’s average. This is the highest level for this average since November 20, 2021 when it was 2,004,250.
Unadjusted Data
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 216,671 in the week ending November 15, a decrease of 22,095 (or -9.3 percent) from the previous week. The seasonal factors had expected a decrease of 14,166 (or -5.9 percent) from the previous week. There were 214,257 initial claims in the comparable week in 2024.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.1 percent during the week ending November 8, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted level of insured unemployment in state programs totaled 1,727,145, an increase of 6,970 (or 0.4 percent) from the preceding week. The seasonal factors had expected a decrease of 17,513 (or – 1.0 percent) from the previous week. A year earlier the rate was 1.1 percent and the volume was 1,660,806.
The total number of continued weeks claimed for benefits in all programs for the week ending November 1 was 1,786,671, an increase of 18,307 from the previous week. There were 1,675,024 weekly claims filed for benefits in all programs in the comparable week in 2024.
No state was triggered “on” the Extended Benefits program during the week ending November 1.
Initial claims for UI benefits filed by former Federal civilian employees totaled 5,719 in the week ending November 8, a decrease of 1,763 from the prior week. There were 390 initial claims filed by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 55 from the preceding week.
There were 38,867 continued weeks claimed filed by former Federal civilian employees the week ending November 1, an increase of 8,218 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 5,227, an increase of 374 from the prior week.
More data can be found here.