Aug. 28 (UPI) — Unemployment claims dropped by 5,000 this week from the previous week’s seasonally adjusted level, but still there are nearly 2 million people unemployed, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Labor.
The advance figure was 229,000. The previous week’s level was revised down by 1,000 from 235,000 to 234,000, the release said. The four-week moving average was 228,500, an increase of 2,500 from the previous week’s revised average.
The total number of continued weeks claimed for benefits in all programs for the week ending Aug. 9 was 1,987,457, a decrease of 18,314 from the previous week. But there were 1,883,079 weekly claims filed for benefits in all programs in the comparable week in 2024, which means there were 104,378 more people claiming benefits this year compared with last year.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.3% for the week ending Aug. 16, which is unchanged from the previous week’s unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Aug. 16 was 1.95 million, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week’s revised level.
The previous week’s level was revised down by 11,000 from 1,972,000 to 1,961,000.
No state triggered the Extended Benefits program during the week ending Aug. 9.
Initial claims for unemployment benefits filed by former federal civilian employees was 581 in the week ending Aug. 16, a decrease of 54 from the prior week. There were 409 initial claims filed by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 53 from the previous week.