U.S. weekly jobless claims drop 14,000 to 351,000

In the week ending March 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 351,000, a decrease of 14,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 365,000. 

The 4-week moving average was 355,750, unchanged from the previous week's revised average of 355,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending March 3, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.7 percent.

Unemployment Rate Food for Thought (Chart)

Unemployment 1980-1983 (Civilian Labor Force)

• In 1980 unemployment rose to 7.7 million
• In 1981 unemployment rose to 9.2 million
• In 1982 unemployment rose to 12 million

Unemployment 2007-2009 (Civilian Labor Force)

• In 2007 unemployment rose to 7.5 million
• In 2008 unemployment rose to 11.1 million
• In 2009 unemployment rose to 12.5 million (February, 2009)

Unemployment Rate 1980-2009 (current 8.1 percent)

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