Unemployment Claims Rise During Week Ending May 9

First-time unemployment claims rose for the week ending May 9, the Department of Labor reported today. An estimated 637,000 people filed for unemployment the first time, up 32,000 from the week before.

Bloomberg News’ sources attribute the jump to recent automobile industry layoffs. The 38 economists Bloomberg polled expected fewer layoffs for that week, although they still projected a rise from the week ending May 2.

The total number of people collecting unemployment (for the week ending May 2) is 6,560,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis, an increase of 202,000 from the prior week.

Here’s the top 10 list of the states with the most former workers collecting unemployment for the week ending April 25:

1. Michigan – 7.8 percent
2. Oregon – 7.5 percent
3. Pennsylvania – 6.5 percent
4. Wisconsin – 6.4 percent
5. Nevada – 6.3 percent
6. Idaho – 6.1 percent
7. Puerto Rico – 5.9 percent
8. Vermont – 5.8 percent
9. Alaska & Rhode Island (tie) – 5.7 percent

May 14, 2009