Weekly unemployment claims remain over 500

Weekly unemployment claims increased last week, but remain at a relatively low level. Construction and Service claims were down, but Manufacturing claims nearly tripled from the week before. For the week there were 540 new, regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance in Vermont. This is an increase of 20 from last week's total. Claims were down 68 from the same time a year ago.

Altogether 4,708 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 39 from a week ago and 1,278 fewer than a year ago. The Department also processed 1,214 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), 58 fewer than a week ago. In addition, there were 190 Second Tier claims for benefits processed under the EUC08 program, which is 12 fewer than the week before. The Tier II program of extended benefits is being discontinued in Vermont as the state's unemployment rate has been under the federal threshold for more than three months.

The Unemployment Weekly Report can be found at: http://www.vtlmi.info/. Previously released Unemployment Weekly Reports and other UI reports can be found at: http://www.vtlmi.info/lmipub.htm#uc  

Vermont's unemployment rate increased three-tenths to 5.3 percent in August, the second consecutive increase. This is the lowest rate in New England and fifth lowest in the US. SEE STORY