New York initial unemployment claims rise, continuing claims fall

The number of people applying for new unemployment-insurance benefits in New York state in the week ending June 1, jumped by 1,001, or 5 percent, to 20,335, according to U.S. Labor Department data issued today.

New York posted a year-to-date low of 18,627 initial jobless claims filed in the week ending May 4. Since then, the state’s weekly claims have increased for four straight weeks, with the latest week’s rise being the largest.

However, the number of New Yorkers continuing to receive unemployment benefits fell to a new year-to-date low of 207,806 in the week ending June 1. Continuing claims in New York have steadily dropped all year from a high of more than 300,000 set in the first week of 2013.

The state data is not seasonally adjusted.

The U.S. Labor Department today also reported that nationwide the number of people applying for new unemployment benefits fell by 12,000 to 334,000 for the week ending June 8, compared to the revised figure of 346,000 for the week before. Analysts had been expecting about 345,000 claims.

The four-week moving average for initial jobless claims decreased by 7,250 to 345,250 in the latest week. The U.S. data is seasonally adjusted.

The Labor Department will release state data for new unemployment-benefit filings for the week ending June 8 next week.

Contact Rombel at arombel@cnybj.com