**State Unemployment Rates** - BLS Release March 10, 2011

First topic message reminder :

New State Unemployment Rates, released at 10:00 am by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

Unemployment Rates for States

Monthly Rankings
Seasonally Adjusted
Jan. 2011
Rank State Rate
1 NORTH DAKOTA 3.8
2 NEBRASKA 4.2
3 SOUTH DAKOTA 4.7
4 NEW HAMPSHIRE 5.6
5 VERMONT 5.7
6 IOWA 6.1
7 HAWAII 6.3
7 WYOMING 6.3
9 VIRGINIA 6.5
10 OKLAHOMA 6.6
11 MINNESOTA 6.7
12 KANSAS 6.8
13 MARYLAND 7.2
14 WISCONSIN 7.4
15 MAINE 7.5
15 MONTANA 7.5
17 UTAH 7.6
18 ALASKA 7.7
19 ARKANSAS 7.8
19 LOUISIANA 7.8
21 PENNSYLVANIA 8.2
22 MASSACHUSETTS 8.3
22 NEW YORK 8.3
22 TEXAS 8.3
25 DELAWARE 8.5
26 NEW MEXICO 8.7
27 CONNECTICUT 9.0
27 ILLINOIS 9.0
29 COLORADO 9.1
29 INDIANA 9.1
29 NEW JERSEY 9.1
29 WASHINGTON 9.1
33 ALABAMA 9.3
34 OHIO 9.4
35 TENNESSEE 9.5
36 ARIZONA 9.6
36 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 9.6
36 MISSOURI 9.6
36 WEST VIRGINIA 9.6
40 IDAHO 9.7
41 NORTH CAROLINA 9.9
42 MISSISSIPPI 10.1
43 GEORGIA 10.4
43 KENTUCKY 10.4
43 OREGON 10.4
46 SOUTH CAROLINA 10.5
47 MICHIGAN 10.7
48 RHODE ISLAND 11.3
49 FLORIDA 11.9
50 CALIFORNIA 12.4
51 NEVADA 14.2

http://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/laus.pdf
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.nr0.htm

Here are the triggers in general (all states), however PA on EB I believe, because of a new Federal Law, is now on a 3 year TUR look back for EB and HUB. It is all, as my friend from Rhode Island said, very fuzzy..

Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC)

* Tier 1: 20 weeks
* Tier 2: 14 weeks
* Tier 3: 13 weeks
* Tier 4: 6 weeks (for states with an average unemployment rate of 8.5% or higher over the past three months)

Extended Benefits (EB)

* 13 weeks for states with an average unemployment rate of 6.5% or higher over the past three months (total 92 weeks)
* 20 weeks for states with an average unemployment rate of 8.0% or higher over the past three months (total 99 weeks)

It is my opinion in PA at 8.2% you will not get Tier 4 but jump to EB, and HUB, just my opinion.

I am on the phone trying to get thru to Pennsylvania now. D&C

It is the three month average. Last month PA's rate was 8.5%. I am researching January's rate and will let you know.

aloneinpa wrote:I just got off the phone w/ PA Unemployment Office (1-888-313-7284), and inquired about transitioning from Tier 3 to Tier 4 and if there were any impact that the new BLS #'s that just came out placing PA at 8.2. The gentleman I spoke w/ told me that it will not be a problem and that there is not a trigger factored in to transition from Tier 3 and into Tier 4. He said that a trigger does not factor in until after completing the Tiers 1-4, to move on to EB. Has anyone else from PA inquired w/ their UC office?

aloneinpa, I just got off the phone with a PA CSR and he said that what you said above is correct. I grilled him, nicely. After a while he said let me talk with my Supervisor. After 5 minutes, he came back on the phone and said you will get Tier 4 and then go onto EB. I was told exactly what you were told. And we go by something called the SB, or some initials like that, according to the CSR, not the Unemployment Rate. This makes me wonder but he did confirm it with the his Supervisor. So it seems, as you said, we will have a Tier 4 at 8.2%, he said everyone gets Tier 4 in PA, but aloneinpa, you must remember, it has been a long time since we have been under 8.5%, so we must be weary of this and as DesperateInRI said, they may not be up-to-date. But I confirmed it twice that you are correct, with the CSR and his Supervisor, so who knows. As I said, the CSR said we are under something called the SB and that we do not go by the Unemployment Rate. Kinda weird. I know the Feds have new laws on Unemployment which a State can adapt if they choose to do so. We all have different laws and Pennsylvania Laws are very different from many states, very hard core Supreme Court Judges in the 70s, 80s, and 90s and State Law, in most cases, will trump Federal Law.

However, I am not absolutely convinced, since some of these CSR may not be aware or are new, I did asked to speak to a Supervisor, and the CSR confirmed what he said according to his Supervisor is correct, therefore by all accounts you are correct. But I think you should call again. I don't know if I believe this. However, what I do believe is EB at 6.5%, we are at 8.2%, so the worse that can happen is we skip Tier 4 and go to EB 13 weeks. I did read we have a 3-year TUR in PA on EB, not months, but years now, which is a new law the state can use to determine EB and HUB.together and issue you 20 weeks in your EB/HUB determination, if they chose to use it, and I think they have. But that is confusing too. Just be assured you will at least get 13 weeks EB, we have to check on the HUB

Fuzzy, as DesperateInRI said, is truly the word for this stuff. Maybe you can call again, or someone else from PA can call.



Very Dazed&Confused.

DesperateInRI wrote:It is the three month average. Last month PA's rate was 8.5%. I am researching January's rate and will let you know.

I believe it was 8.5% in December 2010 and 8.2% in January 2011. Now I am Dazed&Confused with fuzzy math stuck in my head after speaking with PA Unemployment, I don't know. I used to think it was but I am D&C.

Dazed&Confused wrote:

aloneinpa wrote:I just got off the phone w/ PA Unemployment Office (1-888-313-7284), and inquired about transitioning from Tier 3 to Tier 4 and if there were any impact that the new BLS #'s that just came out placing PA at 8.2. The gentleman I spoke w/ told me that it will not be a problem and that there is not a trigger factored in to transition from Tier 3 and into Tier 4. He said that a trigger does not factor in until after completing the Tiers 1-4, to move on to EB. Has anyone else from PA inquired w/ their UC office?

aloneinpa, I just got off the phone with a PA CSR and he said that what you said above is correct. I grilled him, nicely. After a while he said let me talk with my Supervisor. After 5 minutes, he came back on the phone and said you will get Tier 4 and then go onto EB. I was told exactly what you were told. And we go by something called the SB, or some initials like that, according to the CSR, not the Unemployment Rate. This makes me wonder but he did confirm it with the his Supervisor. So it seems, as you said, we will have a Tier 4 at 8.2%, he said everyone gets Tier 4 in PA, but aloneinpa, you must remember, it has been a long time since we have been under 8.5%, so we must be weary of this and as DesperateInRI said, they may not be up-to-date. But I confirmed it twice that you are correct, with the CSR and his Supervisor, so who knows. As I said, the CSR said we are under something called the SB and that we do not go by the Unemployment Rate. Kinda weird. I know the Feds have new laws on Unemployment which a State can adapt if they choose to do so. We all have different laws and Pennsylvania Laws are very different from many states, very hard core Supreme Court Judges in the 70s, 80s, and 90s and State Law, in most cases, will trump Federal Law.

However, I am not absolutely convinced, since some of these CSR may not be aware or are new, I did asked to speak to a Supervisor, and the CSR confirmed what he said according to his Supervisor is correct, therefore by all accounts you are correct. But I think you should call again. I don't know if I believe this. However, what I do believe is EB at 6.5%, we are at 8.2%, so the worse that can happen is we skip Tier 4 and go to EB 13 weeks. I did read we have a 3-year TUR in PA on EB, not months, but years now, which is a new law the state can use to determine EB and HUB.together and issue you 20 weeks in your EB/HUB determination, if they chose to use it, and I think they have. But that is confusing too. Just be assured you will at least get 13 weeks EB, we have to check on the HUB

Fuzzy, as DesperateInRI said, is truly the word for this stuff. Maybe you can call again, or someone else from PA can call.



Very Dazed&Confused.

I am trying to find PA's last 3 months UE rate. This month is 8.3, last month was 8.5% Does anyone know what be the month before was? Eligibility is the 3 month average. Hopefully PA will make it! I'm trying to research it but am having computer issues! I think we are all dazed and confused on this!

DesperateInRI, you want it, you got it

Pennsylvania Unemployment History
Date National
Unemployment Rate US - Pennsylvania Rate & Unemployeed

February 2011 8.9% — —
January 2011 9.0% 8.2% 522,997
December 2010 9.4% 8.5% 535,281
November 2010 9.8% 8.5% 534,689
October 2010 9.7% 8.5% 538,305
September 2010 9.6% 8.5% 539,237

http://www.deptofnumbers.com/unemployment/pennsylvania/


I just want to say, I hope for everyone sake, that the exhaustee bill is passed and quickly. That is my prayer for everyone who is hurting during these very difficult times. I think this world is going a little nuts right now and with all the trouble going on, we do not need to have millions more exhaustees, so they ought to get this bill moving right now on this bill. I have sent 300 emails so far and I am not going to stop until it is passed. Then I'd like to see us screw every Republican that does not help in passing this bill, especially Senator McConnell, he is such a stiff.

Dazed&Confused wrote:

aloneinpa wrote:I just got off the phone w/ PA Unemployment Office (1-888-313-7284), and inquired about transitioning from Tier 3 to Tier 4 and if there were any impact that the new BLS #'s that just came out placing PA at 8.2. The gentleman I spoke w/ told me that it will not be a problem and that there is not a trigger factored in to transition from Tier 3 and into Tier 4. He said that a trigger does not factor in until after completing the Tiers 1-4, to move on to EB. Has anyone else from PA inquired w/ their UC office?

aloneinpa, I just got off the phone with a PA CSR and he said that what you said above is correct. I grilled him, nicely. After a while he said let me talk with my Supervisor. After 5 minutes, he came back on the phone and said you will get Tier 4 and then go onto EB. I was told exactly what you were told. And we go by something called the SB, or some initials like that, according to the CSR, not the Unemployment Rate. This makes me wonder but he did confirm it with the his Supervisor. So it seems, as you said, we will have a Tier 4 at 8.2%, he said everyone gets Tier 4 in PA, but aloneinpa, you must remember, it has been a long time since we have been under 8.5%, so we must be weary of this and as DesperateInRI said, they may not be up-to-date. But I confirmed it twice that you are correct, with the CSR and his Supervisor, so who knows. As I said, the CSR said we are under something called the SB and that we do not go by the Unemployment Rate. Kinda weird. I know the Feds have new laws on Unemployment which a State can adapt if they choose to do so. We all have different laws and Pennsylvania Laws are very different from many states, very hard core Supreme Court Judges in the 70s, 80s, and 90s and State Law, in most cases, will trump Federal Law.

However, I am not absolutely convinced, since some of these CSR may not be aware or are new, I did asked to speak to a Supervisor, and the CSR confirmed what he said according to his Supervisor is correct, therefore by all accounts you are correct. But I think you should call again. I don't know if I believe this. However, what I do believe is EB at 6.5%, we are at 8.2%, so the worse that can happen is we skip Tier 4 and go to EB 13 weeks. I did read we have a 3-year TUR in PA on EB, not months, but years now, which is a new law the state can use to determine EB and HUB.together and issue you 20 weeks in your EB/HUB determination, if they chose to use it, and I think they have. But that is confusing too. Just be assured you will at least get 13 weeks EB, we have to check on the HUB

Fuzzy, as DesperateInRI said, is truly the word for this stuff. Maybe you can call again, or someone else from PA can call.



Very Dazed&Confused.

Thanks D&C, and no I didn't get to talk w/ a supervisor, we were having some phone issues when I called and the guy I spoke with was very pleasant and helpful (he repeated for me exactly what your person said), but he also needed to move on to the next call. I wonder what SB is?!

Dazed&Confused wrote:DesperateInRI, you want it, you got it

Pennsylvania Unemployment History
Date National
Unemployment Rate US - Pennsylvania Rate & Unemployeed

February 2011 8.9% — —
January 2011 9.0% 8.2% 522,997
December 2010 9.4% 8.5% 535,281
November 2010 9.8% 8.5% 534,689
October 2010 9.7% 8.5% 538,305
September 2010 9.6% 8.5% 539,237

http://www.deptofnumbers.com/unemployment/pennsylvania/


I just want to say, I hope for everyone sake, that the exhaustee bill is passed and quickly. That is my prayer for everyone who is hurting during these very difficult times. I think this world is going a little nuts right now and with all the trouble going on, we do not need to have millions more exhaustees, so they ought to get this bill moving right now on this bill. I have sent 300 emails so far and I am not going to stop until it is passed. Then I'd like to see us screw every Republican that does not help in passing this bill, especially Senator McConnell, he is such a stiff.

I pray I am wrong, but I did see on several other sites as I was researching this, PA will lose Tier 4. Those that are currently collecting will continue, but until the 3 month average reaches 8.5%, individuals on Tier 3 will go onto EB when they exhaust that tier.

January 2011 8.2%
December 2010 8.5%
November 2010 8.5%

The three month average is 8.4%

DesperateInRI, I think you are right. Here is a great place to check things out.

Go to http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/claims_arch.asp and you will see a box "choose a weekly report" click on EUC Report or EB Report then you will see a bunch of calendars. Click on the latest week and the below reports will come up. i knew I saw this before but forgot how to get to it. You will get the following reports. Hope this will help some.

http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/euc_trigger/2011/euc_030611.html

http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/trigger/2011/trig_030611.html

Dazed&Confused wrote:DesperateInRI, I think you are right. Here is a great place to check things out.

http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/trigger/2011/trig_022711.html

ooopppss, According to the reports I sited, Pennsylvania uses a Seasonally Adjusted SA 3-month TUR.

So the report for March 6, 2011 shows an 8.6 Pennsylvania Unemployment Rate as the TUR reflects avg. seasonally adjusted TUR for 3-month period ending December, 2010 for week ending March 6, 2011.

If I am right, probably not, those on Tier 3 in PA will have a Tier 4. I don't think I know what I am talking about at this point but that is what the report says.

Man I feel crazy. Some one else from PA call and see if you get another story.

Dazed&Confused wrote:ooopppss, According to the reports I sited, Pennsylvania uses a Seasonally Adjusted SA 3-month TUR.

So the report for March 6, 2011 shows an 8.6 Pennsylvania Unemployment Rate as the TUR reflects avg. seasonally adjusted TUR for 3-month period ending December, 2010 for week ending March 6, 2011.

If I am right, probably not, those on Tier 3 in PA will have a Tier 4. I don't think I know what I am talking about at this point but that is what the report says.

Man I feel crazy. Some one else from PA call and see if you get another story.

Thanks D&C, I think....
Anyone else in PA in the situation of being in Tier 3 and looking to move into Tier 4, and wants to call PADOL?

They don't make things easy. Someone from NY or MA may be able to answer your question because the same thing happened just a short time ago to them.

I would call PADOL, but from what Ive been lead to believe this is correct a 3 months seasonally adjusted average and its posted on the BLS. Wish I had more specifics but they keep it hidden for a reason I guess.

DesperateInRI wrote: They don't make things easy. Someone from NY or MA may be able to answer your question because the same thing happened just a short time ago to them.

Boy, you got that right!

Dazed&Confused wrote:DesperateInRI, I think you are right. Here is a great place to check things out.

Go to http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/claims_arch.asp and you will see a box "choose a weekly report" click on EUC Report or EB Report then you will see a bunch of calendars. Click on the latest week and the below reports will come up. i knew I saw this before but forgot how to get to it. You will get the following reports. Hope this will help some.

http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/euc_trigger/2011/euc_030611.html

http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/trigger/2011/trig_030611.html

Thanks for the link!

Okay, its been hours but I think I got it for Pennsylvania Tier 4:

According to the Feds reports links I showed above which gives the seasonal adjusted rates per state, and are different than those given to us each month, here is my understanding, not a promise you will be paid but my understanding.

I will take the seasonally adjusted 3-month TUR rates according to those reported on the DOL Website and see what happens.

So for Pennsylvania Seasonally Adjusted weekendings the offical unemployment rates are as follows:

January 30, 2011 rate is 8.6 (unadjusted or whatever local says 8.2)
December 26, 2010 rate is 8.8 (unadjusted or whatever local says 8.5)
November 28, 2010 rate is 9.0 (unadjusted or whatever local says 8.5)

So add the Seasonally Adjusted 3 months = 264 divided by 3 = 8.8% so we are okay for Tier 4. If we do it for another month to the end of April into May, we are still okay because the February 27, 2011 Seasonally Adjusted Rate is 8.6.

I hope I am correct. Got all the SA TUR from the Federal Governments Website, and it looks to be correct.

I have not worked this hard for over a year.

So aloneinpa, we will be okay, if this is correct and I think it is. Thanks to my friend DesperateInRI for tempting me to figure this one out. So now we know how to do it for others...I think

Dazed&Confused wrote:Okay, its been hours but I think I got it for Pennsylvania Tier 4:

According to the Feds reports links I showed above which gives the seasonal adjusted rates per state, and are different than those given to us each month, here is my understanding, not a promise you will be paid but my understanding.

I will take the seasonally adjusted 3-month TUR rates according to those reported on the DOL Website and see what happens.

So for Pennsylvania Seasonally Adjusted weekendings the offical unemployment rates are as follows:

January 30, 2011 rate is 8.6 (unadjusted or whatever local says 8.2)
December 26, 2010 rate is 8.8 (unadjusted or whatever local says 8.5)
November 28, 2010 rate is 9.0 (unadjusted or whatever local says 8.5)

So add the Seasonally Adjusted 3 months = 264 divided by 3 = 8.8% so we are okay for Tier 4. If we do it for another month to the end of April into May, we are still okay because the February 27, 2011 Seasonally Adjusted Rate is 8.6.

I hope I am correct. Got all the SA TUR from the Federal Governments Website, and it looks to be correct.

I have not worked this hard for over a year.

So aloneinpa, we will be okay, if this is correct and I think it is. Thanks to my friend DesperateInRI for tempting me to figure this one out. So now we know how to do it for others...I think

Sorry to be so long in responding, had to step away for awhile. Thank you D&C and DIRI for your investigative work, it makes sense, me and another pa unemployed person were told that we would move on to Tier 4, and a supervisor was involved in the latter phone call.

You are welcome, I hope!!!! Either way, we will be okay.


Dazed&Confused.

These are numbers independent of Gov't influence right? I mean they have several levels but they are real numbers?

Yes Maggie they are real numbers taken from the Dept.of Labor website for Pennsylvania. D&C

Dazed&Confused wrote:DesperateInRI, I think you are right. Here is a great place to check things out.

Go to http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/claims_arch.asp and you will see a box "choose a weekly report" click on EUC Report or EB Report then you will see a bunch of calendars. Click on the latest week and the below reports will come up. i knew I saw this before but forgot how to get to it. You will get the following reports. Hope this will help some.

http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/euc_trigger/2011/euc_030611.html

http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/trigger/2011/trig_030611.html

Maggie, if you follow the above links in this post and instructions in my prior post above and look at the 3-month seasonally adjusted for November, December and January you will come to the same conclusion. D&C

DesperateInRI wrote:

Dazed&Confused wrote:DesperateInRI, you want it, you got it

Pennsylvania Unemployment History
Date National
Unemployment Rate US - Pennsylvania Rate & Unemployeed

February 2011 8.9% — —
January 2011 9.0% 8.2% 522,997
December 2010 9.4% 8.5% 535,281
November 2010 9.8% 8.5% 534,689
October 2010 9.7% 8.5% 538,305
September 2010 9.6% 8.5% 539,237

http://www.deptofnumbers.com/unemployment/pennsylvania/


I just want to say, I hope for everyone sake, that the exhaustee bill is passed and quickly. That is my prayer for everyone who is hurting during these very difficult times. I think this world is going a little nuts right now and with all the trouble going on, we do not need to have millions more exhaustees, so they ought to get this bill moving right now on this bill. I have sent 300 emails so far and I am not going to stop until it is passed. Then I'd like to see us screw every Republican that does not help in passing this bill, especially Senator McConnell, he is such a stiff.

I pray I am wrong, but I did see on several other sites as I was researching this, PA will lose Tier 4. Those that are currently collecting will continue, but until the 3 month average reaches 8.5%, individuals on Tier 3 will go onto EB when they exhaust that tier.

January 2011 8.2%
December 2010 8.5%
November 2010 8.5%

The three month average is 8.4%

DesperateInRI, you called it, you are absolutely correct. Go here http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/euc_trigger/2011/euc_031311.html and you will see the PA three month average for week ending March 13, 2011 is 8.4%. Tier 4 has not triggered off yet but I suppose it will any minute. I wish I did not get my hopes up, and aloneinpa, we both called the PA CSC and they said we would get it, but I guess they were wrong, no Tier 4 for PA. Who knows maybe next month we can get it back, think positive. So sad.

Oh well DesperateInRI, you were right but I did not want you to be so I spent hours trying to keep it, tier 4 that is, but in the end, you had it right from the get go.

Dazed&Confused

On a happier note Delaware went from 8.4 to 8.5 so maybe they are trigger ON.

I have a question, oh and apology to DesperateInRI as PA did go to 8.4% but remains trigger on for some reason on Tier 4. Maybe they let it trigger on for a few weeks, idk.

I was looking at the report here

http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/euc_trigger/2011/euc_031311.html

for weekending March 13, 2011 and also noticed that Alaska has been under 8% for months but has been receiving benefits under Tier 4 using the same Trigger option for Teir 4 that PA uses. I find this strange. Also Delaware after months of being under 8.5% is now at 8.5% and I am wondering if they can now Trigger on Tier 4.

Here is an interesting bit of information from the US DOL website some may want to look at for how your state determines EB and HUB.

http://www.oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2010/special.pdf



I can't believe PA Customer Service told both aloneinpa and me t everyone in PA receives Tier 4, eh should have know better. Yep. Wishful thinking.

I am going to go and cry now. Sorry DesperateInRI.