Reply #3: This is indeed what it means [View All]

[OnlinePoker]

On the other hand, that doesn't mean the number of people unemployed has gone up by that much because some people have found jobs. Look to the continuing claims level to see how many people are still drawing UI on a weekly basis. You can add 30-50k to this number, however as the figure is revised upward weekly (I've never seen it go down and the revision is almost always within this range). A continuing claimant will be anyone drawing support for more than one week, even if they get a job in the second week.

I don't know how the extended benefits package that was recently passed will effect continuing claims, though. Do the people who lost their benefits get re-enrolled for stats purposes? If so, continuing claims could take a big jump in the new year.