First-time
unemployment claims increased dramatically in most states following
the September 11 terrorist attacks. Twenty-seven states and the
District of Columbia reported increases of 20 percent or more
for the three weeks following the attacks, as compared to the
three weeks prior to the attacks. The ten highest percentage increases
were in Hawaii (224%), Nevada (126%), the District of Columbia
(99%), New York (64%), Iowa (60%), Alaska (55%), Florida (51%),
Oklahoma (50%), Maryland (46%), and Virginia (45%).
