After increasing slightly one week ago, first-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits declined 28% the week ending Saturday as other measures reflect an end to steadily dropping filings, according to a government report.
Initial claims fell from an upwardly revised total of 2,112 the week ending Dec. 4 to 1,512 the following week.
Continued claims, those filed after one week of unemployment, declined by 18.7%, going from 15,454 claims the week ending Nov. 27 to 12,569 claims the following week.
However, recent fluctuations in state filing trends have meant an end to steadily declining moving averages.
The four-week moving average of initial claims increased from 2,221 the week ending Nov. 27 to 2,244 the following week. The increase ended five consecutive weeks of declining four-week moving average figures.
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The four-week moving average of continued claims increased for the first time in 19 weeks, a trend that dates to the week ending July 17.
The four-week moving average of continued claims increased from 14,471 the week ending Nov. 20 to 14,495 the following week.
“At this point, Oklahoma has had such a strong recovery that we can begin to expect some fluctuations in the numbers,” said Shelley Zumwalt, Oklahoma Employment Security Commission executive director.
“There are currently two jobs for every Oklahoman, so company furloughs and mid-size company layoffs can cause small fluctuations in the claims numbers with the low unemployment numbers statewide. The agency will continue to monitor any variances in claims to see if any trends emerge.”
Nationally, first-time claims for unemployment insurance increased by 18,000 to 206,000, according to seasonally-adjusted figures.
Half of Oklahoma’s bordering states — Arkansas, Kansas and Texas — saw declines in initial unemployment claims. Colorado, Missouri and New Mexico all reported increases in initial claims.
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