Economic policy reports, blog postings, and media stories of interest:
For the benefit week ending on February 25, 2012, some 11,749 North Carolinians filed initial claims for state unemployment insurance benefits, and 117,629 individuals applied for state-funded continuing benefits. Compared to the prior week, there were more initial and fewer continuing claims. These figures come from data released by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Averaging new and continuing claims over a four-week period — a process that helps adjust for seasonal fluctuations and better illustrates trends — shows that an average of 11,549 initial claims were filed over the previous four weeks, along with an average of 119,452 continuing claims. Compared to the previous four-week period, the average number of initial claims was lower, as was the average number of continuing claims.
One year ago, the four-week average for initial claims stood at 12,762, and the four-week average of continuing claims equaled 131,225.
In recent weeks covered employment has increased and now slightly exceeds the level recorded a year ago (3.74 million versus 3.71 million). Nevertheless, there are still fewer covered workers than there were in January 2008, which means that payrolls are smaller today than they were four years ago.
The graph shows the changes in unemployment insurance claims measured as a share of covered employment in North Carolina since the recession’s start in December 2007. 
Both new and continuing claims appear to have peaked for this cycle, and the four-week averages of new and continuing claims have fallen considerably. Yet continuing claims remain at an elevated level, which suggests that unemployed individuals are finding it difficult to find new positions.
The Center for American Progress summarizes the challenges, including the risks of becoming poor and homeless, that face returning veterans. From the analysis …
In order to support our veterans, policymakers must act to create jobs and protect the safety net from cuts to programs such as veteran housing and employment services, SNAP/food stamps, and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. These programs and other services help struggling veterans and nonveterans alike get back on their feet. America must continue to honor and protect those who defend us by providing the support and resources necessary to help them find stability and opportunity.
Economic policy reports, blog postings, and media stories of interest:
From the Economic Policy Institute’s analysis of the January version of the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) …
The total number of unemployed workers in January was 12.8 million (unemployment data come from the Current Population Survey). Therefore the ratio of unemployed workers to job openings was 3.7-to-1 in January, unchanged from the revised December ratio of 3.7-to-1. Notably, despite steady improvements since its peak of 6.7-to-1 in July 2009, this ratio is still far higher than thehighest rate of the early 2000’s downturn, which was 2.9-to-1. Furthermore, the lack of job openings relative to job seekers is not limited to particular industries….
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