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. source: U.S. Department of Labor

Initial Jobless Claims in the United States decreased to 194 thousand in the week ending October 17 of 2026 from 200 thousand in the previous week. Initial Jobless Claims in the United States averaged 358.91 Thousand from 1967 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 6137.00 Thousand in April of 2020 and a record low of 162.00 Thousand in November of 1968. This page provides the latest reported value for - United States Initial Jobless Claims - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. United States Initial Jobless Claims - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on October of 2026.

Initial Jobless Claims in the United States decreased to 194 thousand in the week ending October 17 of 2026 from 200 thousand in the previous week. Initial Jobless Claims in the United States is expected to be 211.00 Thousand by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United States Initial Jobless Claims is projected to trend around 235.00 Thousand in 2027 and 240.00 Thousand in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-10-15 12:30 PM
Initial Jobless Claims
Oct/10 199K 198K 200K 201.0K
2026-10-22 12:30 PM
Initial Jobless Claims
Oct/17 194K 200K 200K 200.0K
2026-10-29 12:30 PM
Initial Jobless Claims
Oct/24 194K 199K 196.0K


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Continuing Jobless Claims - Federal Workers 5036.00 5038.00 People Oct 2026
Continuing Jobless Claims 1728.00 1703.00 Thousand Oct 2026
Initial Jobless Claims 194.00 200.00 Thousand Oct 2026
Initial Jobless Claims - Federal Workers 544.00 463.00 People Oct 2026
Jobless Claims 4-week Average 197.75 198.75 Thousand Oct 2026
Labour Costs 123.98 123.62 points Jun 2026
Productivity 120.02 119.59 points Jun 2026


United States Initial Jobless Claims
Initial jobless claims refer to the number of people who have filed for unemployment benefits with their state's unemployment agency for the first time during a specific reporting period, typically on a weekly basis. .
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
194.00 200.00 6137.00 162.00 1967 - 2026 Thousand Weekly
Volume, SA

News Stream
US Jobless Claims Fall to Lowest Level Since July
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.
2026-10-22
US Initial Jobless Claims Remain Low
The number of people claiming unemployment benefits rose by 1,000 to 199,000 in the week ending October 10, 2026, coming in slightly below market expectations of 200,000. Continuing claims, which scales the total size of ongoing unemployment in the US, fell by 4,000 to 1,710,000, remaining relatively close to the more-than-three-year low reached two weeks prior. The data continues to reflect a resilient US labor market, in line with the Federal Reserve that cites 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 68 to 463.
2026-10-15
US Initial Jobless Claims at Over 2-Month Low
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.
2026-10-08