According to a Labor Department press release, the news announcing jobless claims data was placed in an automated software system on August 8 in preparation for being posted on the Internet on August 9. Two weeks ago, new testing procedures were implemented for the automated system.

"A test of the automated system that was conducted on Thursday inadvertently triggered the release of the unemployment claims report," the release said.

The data were posted on the department’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) website at 5:10 p.m. on August 8.

ETA is conducting an internal review of new testing procedures and has notified the department’s Office of Inspector General.