|
| ||
 |
||
| Claims for unemployment benefits in Oregon drop | ||
| 12/12/2005 | ||
|
CONTACT: Tom Fuller Communications Manager WorkSource Oregon Employment Department 503-947-1301 Thomas.E.Fuller@state.or.us As Oregon’s unemployment rate continued to slide, the Oregon Employment Department reported initial claims for unemployment benefits continued on a downward trend as well. Initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits fell 13 percent last month from November 2004, dropping from 35,003 to 30,470. In addition, other trends within the unemployment insurance program mirror a strengthening of the state’s job picture. The total number of weeks regular unemployment insurance benefits were claimed in November was down 21% from a year ago; the total number of first-time payments of regular unemployment insurance benefits was down 19%; and the total dollar amount of regular unemployment insurance benefits was down 19%. The average amount of time an individual claims regular unemployment insurance benefits has been on the decline, indicating improving opportunities for re-employment. The average number of weeks of a regular claim in Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2005 (Oct 1, 2004-Sep 30, 2005) was 15.2 weeks. This compares to FFY 2004 when the average duration of a regular claim was 16.6 weeks, and FFY 2003 when the average duration was 17.4 weeks. In addition, the percentage of those who exhaust their regular benefits also declined this past federal fiscal year from 44.3% in 2004 to 35% in FFY2005. -30-
|
||
