Every state is required to submit a regular report to the United States Department of Labor (DOL) regarding Unemployment Insurance (UI) weekly claims. This is then compiled for nationwide statistics and made available every Thursday at http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/current.htm. So, how does Utah fit into the national picture?
The number of initial claims is monitored for emerging unemployment trends. According to DOL, an initial claim is someone who (1) requests a determination of entitlement to and eligibility for compensation or (2) begins a second or subsequent period of eligibility within a benefit year. This number also includes someone who lives in Utah and is filing a claim against a different state because of the location of their wages. Utah provides claimants the opportunity to file online at jobs.utah.gov or via telephone at (888) 848-0688. After filing, the claim is reviewed for monetary and non-monetary eligibility, such as the reason for separation with your last job and your availability for work.
The number of continued weeks claimed measures insured unemployment and is used for economic purposes. Every claimant is required to file a weekly claim that evaluates availability for work, job searches, and any employment or earnings. This number includes all weeks that are claimed, even if the benefits are not paid or payment status is uncertain (e.g., pending adjudication decisions, waiting week, etc.).
Report dated October 01, 2011 reflects our unemployment numbers for week-ending September 24, 2011 (4-week moving average)
- 1,786 initial UI claims filed (decrease of 59 from the prior week and decrease of 290 from same week in 2010)
- 18,091 continued UI weeks claimed (decrease of 260 from the prior week and decrease of 4,944 from same week in 2010)
- 12,472 continued EUC08 weeks claimed (decrease of 98 from the prior week and decrease of 8,299 from same week in 2010)
Stay tuned for further posts regarding our UI claims numbers!
