Unemployment Index Reports

The number of total initial claims rose in California for the week of May 29, while continuing to drop in the rest of the US.

Recent trends continued for the week of May 22, with the number of total initial claims down slightly in California while continuing to drop more strongly since the week of February 27 in the rest of the US.

Recent trends continued for the week of May 15, with the number of total initial claims essentially level in California while continuing to drop since the week of February 27 in the rest of the US.

Recent trends continued for the week of May 8, with the number of total initial claims essentially level in California while continuing to drop in the rest of the US.

Total initial claims fell in California the week of May 1, while plunging twice as fast in the rest of the US. The US total was another pandemic low, while the California numbers bested the previous low reached 3 weeks ago.

Total initial claims rose in California the week of April 24, while continuing to drop in the rest of the US. The US total was the lowest since the PUA program began in May 2020. The California numbers were the third-lowest.

Total initial claims were largely level in California the week of April 17, while showing a significant drop in the rest of the US.

Continuing the high volatility of the past several weeks, total initial claims were down sharply in California during the week of April 10, while continuing the downward trend in the rest of the states that began in early March.

Total initial claims in California experienced a sharp rise during the week of April 3 while easing in the US as a whole.

In California, initial claims processed in the regular program were up 36.6% compared to the prior week, while PUA claims climbed 47.5%. In the national totals, regular claims rose 2.5%, while PUA claims dropped 36.1% due to a deep shift in Ohio. Combined, total claims processed were up 38.1% in California and down 7.0% in the US numbers.

During the week of March 27, a rise in initial claims under the regular program outweighed drops in PUA claims by the self-employed.

In California, initial claims processed in the regular program were up 10.0% compared to the prior week, while PUA claims were down by 19.9%. In the national totals, regular claims rose 9.7%, while PUA claims were down by 1.7% due to large increases in Ohio. Combined, total claims processed were up 4.7% in California and 6.6% in the US numbers.

Initial claims dropped in California to a somewhat greater extent than in the rest of the US during the week of March 20. The number of California initial claims is the fourth-lowest since the week of March 21, 2020—a comparison that includes lower numbers due to ongoing administrative issues at EDD. The results for the US mark the lowest. Both levels, however, remain well above the pre-pandemic period.

Initial claims eased in California while dropping sharply in the rest of the US during the week of March 13.

In California, initial claims processed in the regular program were up only 1.7% compared to the prior week, while PUA claims dropped 25.1%. In the national totals, regular claims were up 3.4%, while PUA claims plunged 41.0% in large part due to a large drop in the Ohio numbers. Combined, total claims processed eased 5.2% in California but were down 14.3% in the US numbers.

Initial claims jumped again in California while easing in the rest of the US during the week of March 6. Combined with the higher California numbers and continued elevated claims in Ohio, the national numbers overall were largely stable.

Initial claims in both California and the US overall showed minor upward movement in the week of February 27. The national numbers again were heavily affected by elevated claims in Ohio.

While continuing to remain well above more typical levels, initial claims were down substantially in both the state and nation for the week of February 20. While the overall national numbers were lower likely due in part by severe weather conditions, they were also buoyed again by abnormally high claims processed in Ohio in both the regular and PUA programs.