Unemployment Index Reports

Initial claims showed only minor easing for the week of October 24, with unemployment still well above prior levels as pandemic-related closures remain throughout most of the state. Initial claims in the regular program for California eased 4.9% from the prior week, while dipping 3.7% for the US (not seasonally adjusted) as a whole. Combined with the initial PUA claims covering the self-employed and other categories of workers, total claims eased 3.8% in California and 1.2% in the US.

As California resumes reporting the weekly results, initial claims in the regular unemployment insurance program were down for both the state and nation. Initial claims in the week of October 17 in California fell 9.8% from the newly reported prior week. Initial claims nationally dropped 8.8% from the revised unadjusted numbers that incorporate the California results.