Latest News Stream - Initial Jobless Claims

Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 6,000 to 189,000 in the final week of October, below market expectations of 196,000 and down from a revised 195,000 in the previous week. The reading matched the 57-year low recorded in mid-July, pointing to continued labor market resilience despite mounting economic headwinds. Robust corporate profits and resilient domestic demand are helping limit layoffs, while employers remain cautious about staffing changes amid uncertainty over the Iran war, elevated energy costs, Fed policy and trade policy. Meanwhile, continuing claims increased by 23,000 to 1.718 million in the week ended October 24.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits in the US fell by 6,000 to 194,000 in the week ended October 17, below market expectations of 200,000 and down from a revised 200,000 in the previous week, according to the US Department of Labor. Claims reached their lowest level since mid-July, signaling continued labor market resilience despite mounting economic headwinds. Robust corporate profits and resilient domestic demand are helping shield workers from layoffs, while employers appear reluctant to make significant staffing changes amid heightened uncertainty. Elevated energy costs, driven by the US-Israeli war with Iran, along with uncertainty surrounding the conflict, the outlook for Federal Reserve interest rates and unsettled trade policy that could push business costs higher, are weighing on hiring decisions. Meanwhile, continuing claims rose by 25,000 to 1.728 million in the week ended October 10.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits fell by 2,000 to 197,000 in the week ending October 3, 2026, coming in below market expectations of 200,000 and marking the lowest initial claim count since the 60-year low of 189,000 in mid-July. Continuing claims, a gauge of ongoing unemployment in the US, rose by 17,000 to 1,716,000, remaining relatively close to the more-than-three-year low touched in the previous week. The data extended a period of resilience in the US labor market as the Federal Reserve continues to cite full employment. Meanwhile, initial claims filed by federal employees, which remain in the spotlight due to the administration's push to shrink the public sector, rose by 26 to 395, remaining well below historical levels.

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell by 1,000 to 197,000 in the week ended September 26, below expectations of 200,000 and down from a revised 198,000, according to the US Department of Labor. Claims reached their lowest level since the 57-year low of 189,000 recorded in mid-July, pointing to continued resilience in the US labor market despite growing headwinds from the US-Israeli war with Iran, which has pushed diesel prices to record levels. Economists say robust corporate profits and resilient domestic demand are helping shield workers from layoffs, while employers appear to be taking a wait-and-see approach amid elevated energy costs, uncertainty over the conflict in Iran, potential Fed rate increases and an unsettled trade policy that could push costs higher. Continuing claims fell by 11,000 to 1.701 million in the week ended September 19, the lowest since April 2023.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits fell by 10,000 to 196,000 in the second week of September, the least since the 60-year low of 189,000 from July, and well under market expectations of 208,000. Continuing claims, a gauge of outstanding unemployment in the US, fell by 39,000 to 1,730,000 in the first week, the lowest since January of 2024. The data extended the period of resilience in the US labor market as the Federal Reserve cites full employment. Meanwhile, initial claims filed by federal employees, which have added spotlight on the administration's signal to shrink the of public sector, rose by 10 to 398, well below historical levels.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits inched up by 2,000 to 206,000 on the fourth week of August, loosely aligned with market expectations of 205,000 to hold the trend of low claim counts since dropping to the near 60-year low of 189,000 in the middle of July. Continuing claims, a gauge of outstanding unemployment in the US, rose by 8,000 to 1,779,000 in the earlier period. The data extended the period of resilience in the US labor market despite the unexpected contraction in payrolls per the latest BLS data, aligned with the view from some FOMC members that the US is in full employment. Meanwhile, initial claims filed by federal employees, which have added spotlight on the administration's signal to shrink the of public sector, fell by 53 to 337.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US fell by 4,000 to 203,000 on the third week of August, below market expectations that they would rise to 208,000, holding the trend of low claim counts since dropping to the near 60-year low of 189,000 in the middle of July. Meanwhile, continuing claims, a gauge of outstanding unemployment in the US, fell by 18,000 to 1,778,000 in the earlier period, also below expectations. The data extended the period of resilience in the US labor market despite the unexpected contraction in payrolls per the latest BLS data, aligned with the view from some FOMC members that the US is in full employment. Meanwhile, initial claims filed by federal employees, which have been under scrutiny due the administration's efforts in decreasing the number of public workers, fell by 59 to 390, the lowest since December 2024.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US fell by 6,000 to 206,000 on the second week of August, below market expectations of 210,000. The result maintained the streak of low initial claim counts since reaching the near 60-year low of 189,000 in the middle of July. Meanwhile, continuing claims, a gauge of outstanding unemployment in the US, rose by 18,000 to 1,799,000 in the previous week. The data extended the period of resilience in the US labor market despite the unexpected contraction in payrolls per the latest BLS data, aligned with the view from some FOMC members that the US is in full employment. Meanwhile, initial claims filed by federal employees, which have been under scrutiny due the administration's efforts in decreasing the number of public workers, rose by 48 to 449.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US rose by 9,000 to 209,000 on the first week of August, above market expectations of 202,000. Continuing claims, which are seen as a gauge of outstanding unemployment in the US, declined by 22,000 to 1,777,000 in the earlier week. The data pointed to some resilience in the US labor market despite weaker signals from the latest BLS jobs report, broadly aligning with statements from FOMC members that see the US economy in full employment. Meanwhile, initial claims filed by federal employees, which have been under scrutiny due the administration's efforts in decreasing the number of public workers, fell by 49 to 401.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US inched higher by 1,000 to 199,000 on the final week of July, slightly under market expectations of 202,000 to remain near the 57-year low of 188,000 two weeks prior. Continuing claims, which are seen as a gauge of outstanding unemployment in the US, rose by 24,000 to 1,801,000 in the earlier week, remaining well under averages from this year. The data continued to reflect a strong labor market in the US, aligned with statements from FOMC members that see the US economy in full employment. Meanwhile, initial claims filed by federal employees, which have been under scrutiny due the administration's efforts in decreasing the number of public workers, rose by 32 to 450.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US sank by 22,000 to 187,000 on the week to July 18th, well under expectations that it would increase to 212,000, for the lowest claim count in nearly 60 years. Continuing claims, which are seen as a gauge of outstanding unemployment in the US, fell by 2,000 to 1,796,000 on the previous week following an aggressive downward revision to the first period of July. The data continued to reflect a strong labor market in the US, aligned with statements from FOMC members that see the US economy in full employment. Meanwhile, initial claims filed by federal employees, which have been under scrutiny due the administration's efforts in decreasing the number of public workers, rose by 46 to 470.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US fell by 8,000 to 208,000 on the week to July 11th, well under expectations that it would increase to 217,000, to mark the lowest initial claim count in over two months. Continuing claims, which are seen as a gauge of outstanding unemployment in the US, fell by 16,000 to 1,805,000 on the week to July 4th, under expectations of 1,820,000. The improvements indicated that the labor market remains robust with low levels of firing, despite pressure from declining labor force growth. Meanwhile, initial claims filed by federal employees, which have been under scrutiny due the administration's efforts in decreasing the number of public workers, rose by 20 to 424.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US fell by 2,000 to 215,000 on the week to July 4th, below expectations that it would rise to 218,000. Meanwhile, continuing claims, which are seen as a gauge of outstanding unemployment in the US, rose by 8,000 to 1,814,000 in the last full week of June, the highest since late March but below expectations of 1,820,000. While the levels remained slightly above those observed in the start of the second quarter, the data continued to support the view of a low-firing labor market. Meanwhile, initial claims filed by federal employees, which have been under scrutiny due the administration's efforts in decreasing the number of public workers, fell by 40 to 404.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US fell by 1,000 from the previous week in the last full week of June, the lowest in five weeks, and below market expectations of 220,000. Meanwhile, continuing claims, which are seen as a gauge of outstanding unemployment in the US, rose by 2,000 to 1,814,000 in the third week of June, the highest in three months. The claim counts were higher than those observed in the start of the second quarter, but remained robust on historical standards, maintaining the trend of low firing and low hiring. Meanwhile, initial claims filed by federal employees, which have been under scrutiny due the administration's efforts in decreasing the number of public workers, rose by 13 to 44.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US eased by 12,000 to 215,000 on the third week of June, the lowest in four weeks, and below market expectations of 225,000. Meanwhile, continuing claims, which are seen as a gauge of outstanding unemployment in the US, rose by 21,000 from to 1,821,000 in the first week of June, the highest in three months. The claim counts were higher than those observed in the start of the second quarter, but remained robust on historical standards, maintaining the trend of low firing and low hiring. Meanwhile, initial claims filed by federal employees, which have been under scrutiny due the administration's efforts in decreasing the number of public workers, fell by 61 to 431.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US eased by 4,000 from the four-month high in the previous week to 226,000 in the second week of June, loosely aligned with market expectations of 225,000. Meanwhile, continuing claims, which are seen as a gauge of outstanding unemployment in the US, rose by 24,000 from to 1,810,000 in the first week of June, the highest in nearly three months. Albeit consolidating the departure from the strong levels since the start of the second quarter, the figures remained robust on historical standards, maintaining the trend of low firing and low hiring. Meanwhile, initial claims filed by federal employees, which have been under scrutiny due the administration's efforts in decreasing the number of public workers, fell by 56 to 497.