Unemployment

Seasonally Adjusted Data

November 5, 2009 -- In the week ending Oct. 31, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 512,000, a decrease of 20,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 532,000. The 4-week moving average was 523,750, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised average of 526,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.4 percent for the week ending Oct. 24, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.4 percent.    » read more »

Bill Also Includes Measures to Extend Homebuyer Tax Credit and Help Businesses to Offset Losses Incurred During Recession

November 4, 2009 -- Washington, DC - With millions of Americans still struggling to find work in this difficult economy, the U.S. Senate today took action to assist those in need by extending unemployment insurance benefits for up to 20 weeks. The legislation, which passed the Senate by a vote of 98 to 0, will also expand and extend the $8,000 homebuyer tax credit passed earlier this year and allow businesses to offset losses incurred during the recession. Whitehouse, a cosponsor of the unemployment provision, released the following statement following today's vote:    » read more »

Measure Includes Tax Credits for First-time Homebuyers, Small Businesses

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) today praised the Senate passage of legislation to extend unemployment insurance for up to 14 additional weeks for jobless workers in all 50 states. A cosponsor of the legislation, Webb has repeatedly called on his colleagues to swiftly pass the much-needed extension that would provide relief for the nearly 2 million Americans, including 13,000 Virginians, who will exhaust their unemployment benefits by the end of the year.    » read more »

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today issued the following statement regarding the Senate’s long-awaited passage of an Unemployment Insurance benefits extension following weeks of partisan delays:

“While I remain outraged that Senate Republicans decided to engage in nearly a month of political gamesmanship before working with us to extend unemployment benefits for millions of laid-off American workers, I’m relieved that aid for these families is around is finally the corner.

“In New Mexico, more than 150,000 residents are jobless as a result of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Now we will finally be able to send them a financial lifeline to keeping roofs over their heads and food on their tables.    » read more »

Legislation also provides tax refunds to struggling Michigan businesses, extends and expands homebuyer tax credit

November 04, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today announced Senate passage of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2009, which she co-sponsored. The legislation will extend long-term unemployment benefits in Michigan by 20 weeks. This bill also provides tax refunds to businesses that have been hit by the economic recession, and extends and expands the successful first-time homebuyer tax credit.    » read more »

Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act helps struggling Americans, first-time homebuyers and grows the economy

Washington, D.C. -- November 4, 2009 -- Today, Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) commented on the passage of the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act. The bill provides 14 weeks of additional Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program (UI) benefits to all states. In addition, it provides another six weeks of benefits to recipients in states such as Pennsylvania where unemployment exceeds 8.5 percent. The bill passed the Senate unanimously.    » read more »

Legislation includes homebuyer tax credit extension, help for struggling American businesses

November 4, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a leader in the fight to extend unemployment benefits to jobless workers in all 50 states and co-author of the Senate compromise amendment, today applauded Senate passage of a fair extension of unemployment insurance to jobless workers in New Hampshire and across the country.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, November 4 – The Senate voted late this afternoon for a 14-week extension of unemployment insurance benefits. The extension would help about 1,800 Vermonters whose benefits were to have run out by the end of this year.

“Winter is coming and in Vermont and around the country we simply cannot leave families in the lurch without any source of income,” said Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Sanders said workers who have lost their jobs during the worst recession since the 1930s have remained unemployed an average of 27 weeks – longer than at any time since the end of World War II.

The House later this week is expected to finish action on the bill and send it to President Obama. The measure also would expand an $8,000 tax credit for homebuyers.    » read more »

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – In a positive step for Rhode Island's economy, the U.S. Senate today approved legislation championed by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) to immediately extend unemployment benefits for up to 20 weeks for more than 4,000 Rhode Island job seekers who exhausted their current benefits. The Reid-Baucus-Reed-Shaheen legislation extends unemployment insurance benefits to jobless Americans in every state by up to 14 weeks, with an additional 6 weeks possible in high unemployment states like Rhode Island with rates at or above 8.5%.    » read more »

November 5, 2009 -- Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson today voted to provide additional benefits to thousands of unemployed Nebraskans, and to extend the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit that already has helped more than 10,000 Nebraskans buy homes and created hundreds of jobs in new home construction in Nebraska.

“Although Nebraska’s unemployment rate is lower than many states, more than 13,000 Nebraskans are receiving emergency unemployment benefits now, and many could be helped by the temporary extension we approved today,” said Nelson. “These benefits are a critical lifeline for those pushed out of work by the recession.    » read more »

Legislation provides additional 20 weeks of benefits for laid off New Jersey workers, while aiming to spur home sales and supporting businesses

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – This evening, the U.S. Senate passed legislation to extend unemployment insurance for laid off workers. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) was a co-sponsor of the legislation and voted in favor of its passage. The bill extends benefits by 14 weeks in all states and by 20 weeks in states with unemployment rates of 8.5 percent or higher, which includes New Jersey, and is expected to assist tens of thousands of New Jerseyans whose benefits have expired. The    » read more »

November 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) praised the Senate's passage of legislation to extend unemployment benefits to Connecticut workers for an additional 14 weeks. The bill, cosponsored by Senator Lieberman, also extends the homebuyer tax credit through April 30, 2010 and expands its availability to move-up homebuyers.    » read more »

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Carl Levin, D-Mich., filed the following floor statement today regarding the Senate’s consideration of a bill that will extend unemployment benefits.

Mr. President, the measure we have before us is vital to the three-quarters of a million people in Michigan who are unemployed. It is vital to the 15.1 million Americans who are unemployed. It will keep them in their homes. It will keep their children fed and clothed.    » read more »

November 4, 2009 -- [After ending a Republican filibuster on the bill earlier in the day, in a vote of 98 to 0, the U.S. Senate Wednesday night approved legislation to: 1) extend unemployment insurance by up to 14 additional weeks for jobless workers across the nation; 2) continue the $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit through April 30, 2010, but with 60 days to close after that date; 3) provide a $6,500 credit to new purchasers who have lived in their current residences for five or more years; and 4) extend and expand the carry back provision to allow all businesses to carry back losses incurred in 2008 or 2009 for five years.    » read more »

Measure Would Extend Homebuyer Tax Credit Through June

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - Following weeks of Republican obstruction, U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today voted to approve legislation that would extend unemployment benefits for an additional 14 weeks in every state and an additional 20 weeks in New Jersey and other states where unemployment exceeds 8.5 percent. The legislation will also extend and expand the first-time homebuyers tax credit.    » read more »