US Unemployment Insurance

Data Employment

Source: US Department of Labor
Source Link: https://www.dol.gov/
Frequency: Weekly
Next Release(s): December 4th, 2025 8:30 AM

Latest Updates

Initial jobless claims fell to 216k in the week ending November 22 (SA), down -6k WoW and matching the level seen one year earlier, reflecting broadly steady layoff activity despite recent week-to-week fluctuations.
- Initial claims (NSA) rose to 243,992, up +25,712 WoW, modestly above the 238,766 level from November 8 and slightly below the 245,163 reading from the same week last year, indicating seasonal firming but no unusual YoY pressure.
- The 4-week moving average of initial claims (SA) edged down -1k to 223,750, remaining close to mid-November readings and suggesting limited volatility in underlying claims.
- Insured unemployment (SA) increased to 1.960 million in the week ending November 15, up +7k WoW, continuing a gradual rise from 1.946 million on November 1 but still consistent with a contained level of continuing claims.
- Insured unemployment (NSA) rose more sharply to 1.796 million, up +86,794 WoW, and slightly above the 1.722 million level from a year ago, pointing to a bit more benefit usage as seasonal patterns shift.
- The insured unemployment rate (SA) held at 1.3%, unchanged from the prior week, while the NSA rate ticked up by 0.1 pp to 1.2%, showing only a mild increase.
- Federal employee claims (UCFE) declined to 1,724, down -3,995 WoW, a sizeable pullback from the prior week’s elevated reading but above the 525 figure from last year’s comparable week.
- Newly discharged veteran claims (UCX) fell to 320, down -70 WoW and slightly below the 330 level a year ago, indicating stable filings within the veteran category.
Initial jobless claims fell to 220k in the week ending November 15 (SA), down -8k WoW and remaining close to levels seen in early autumn, reflecting continued stability in layoff activity.
- Initial claims (NSA) declined -22,095 WoW to 216,671, slightly above the 216,081 level from the same week last year, indicating modest YoY softening but no sharp deterioration.
- The 4-week moving average of initial claims (SA) edged down -3k to 224,250, suggesting a mild easing in near-term volatility.
- Continued claims (SA) rose +28k to 1.974 million in the week ending November 8, moving further above the 1.946 million level from the prior week and continuing a gradual upward trend.
- Continued claims (NSA) increased +6,970 WoW to 1.727 million, modestly above last year’s 1.661 million, pointing to slightly higher ongoing benefit usage.
- The insured unemployment rate held at 1.3% (SA) and 1.1% (NSA), showing no change despite rising continued claims.
- Federal employee claims under UCFE fell -1,763 WoW to 5,719, though still elevated relative to 615 in the same week last year.
- Newly discharged veteran claims (UCX) decreased -55 to 390, slightly below last year’s 408, indicating stable benefit filings within that category.
The US Department of Labor updated its jobless claims data with some new data points (all as of the week of October 18th, 2025):
- Initial claims (SA): 232,000
- Initial claims (NSA): 205,696
- Continued claims (SA): 1.957 million (highest since week of August 9th)
- Insured unemployment rate (SA): 1.3%
Initial jobless claims fell -14k to 218k (vs 235k expected) in the week ending September 20, 2025 (SA), with the 4-week moving average easing slightly to 237.5k, reflecting stability in labor market conditions.
- On a NSA basis, initial claims declined -14.8k to 180.6k, though this remained just below the 181.7k level from a year earlier.
- Continued claims (SA) edged down -2k to 1.926 million in the week ending September 13, keeping the insured unemployment rate steady at 1.3%.
- NSA continued claims dropped -32.1k to 1.728 million, though still above the 1.628 million seen a year earlier.
- The 4-week moving average of continued claims (SA) eased -4.5k to 1.930 million, consistent with modest improvement.
- Federal employee claims under UCFE rose to 635 in the week ending September 13, up from 572 the prior week and above 312 a year earlier.
Total initial jobless claims were down -33k to 231k (vs 240k expected) last week. The 4-week average remained around 240k.
- Not seasonally adjusted claims fell -10.4k to 194.5k, about 8k ahead of the 186.8k seen a year ago.
- Continued claims fell -7k to 1.920 million (vs 1.950 million expected), with the insured unemployment rate holding at 1.3%.
- The non-seasonally adjusted continued claims total dropped -50.5k to 1.752 million, but was about the 1.671 million total from a year ago.
- The surge in jobless claims in the previous week was caused by 15.3k claims posted in Texas due to mass layoffs across sectors, and a smaller 3k claims total in Michigan due to layoffs in manufacturing.
Jobless claims jumped 27k to 263k in the week ending September 6, above expectations of 235k and the highest weekly total since October 2021.
- On an NSA basis, initial claims increased +7.9k to 204.6k, remaining above the 178.7k level from the same week last year.
- The 4-week moving average of initial claims (SA) rose +9.8k to 240.5k, showing an upward shift compared with both the prior week (230.8k) and the same period last year (230.5k).
- Insured unemployment (SA) was unchanged at 1.939 million in the week ending August 30, close to the prior year level of 1.845 million.
- On an NSA basis, insured unemployment fell -77.7k to 1.814 million, but still compared above the year-ago level of 1.705 million.
- The 4-week moving average of continuing claims (SA) edged down -750 to 1.946 million, little changed overall.
- The insured unemployment rate held at 1.3% (SA) and 1.2% (NSA), showing stability versus both the prior week and prior year.
- Federal employee claims (UCFE, NSA) ticked up +12 to 527 in the week ending August 30, nearly double the 269 claims recorded a year earlier.
US initial jobless claims rose +8k to 237k (vs 230k expected) in the week ending August 30, slightly above the prior year level of 228k, while the 4-week moving average climbed +2.5k to 231k.
- On an NSA basis, initial claims increased +5.8k to 196.9k, remaining modestly above the 190.6k level from a year earlier.
- Continued claims (SA) fell -4k to 1.940 million in the week ending August 23, while the NSA measure dropped -41.3k to 1.893 million.
- The insured unemployment rate held steady at 1.3% (SA), with the NSA rate edging down -0.1 ppt to 1.2%.
- The 4-week moving average of continuing claims decreased -7k to 1.947 million, though it remains slightly above last year’s 1.859 million.
- Federal employee claims (UCFE, NSA) declined -73 to 515, but were still higher than the 306 recorded one year earlier.
US initial jobless claims fell -5k to 229k in the week ending August 23, in line with expectations, while the 4-week moving average rose +2.5k to 228.5k.
- On an NSA basis, initial claims declined -2.9k to 191.3k, broadly in line with the prior year level of 192.7k.
- Total continued claims (SA) decreased -7k to 1.954 million (vs 1.97 million expected) in the week ending August 16, while the NSA measure fell -10.5k to 1.945 million.
- The insured unemployment rate held steady at 1.3% (SA and NSA), up slightly from 1.2% a year ago.
- The 4-week moving average of continuing claims increased +4.5k to 1.956m, remaining above the 1.866m level of the prior year.
- Federal employee claims (UCFE) eased -54 to 581, though they were higher than the 284 seen a year earlier.
US jobless claims increased 11k to 235k last week, ahead of expectations of 225k claims and an 8-week high.
- Not seasonally adjusted initial claims actually fell -4.5k to 194.9k and were mostly n line with the total a year ago at 192.5k
- Continued claims ticked up 30k to 1.972 million, also ahead of expectations and a new roughly 3.5-year high.
- The insured unemployment rate remained unchanged at 1.3% last week but was up 0.1 ppts from a year ago.
- Federal employee claims remained elevated at 635, up from 337 a year ago.
US initial jobless claims fell -3k to 224k (vs 228k) for the week ending Aug 9, while the 4-week moving average rose +750 to 221.8k.
- Initial claims (not seasonally adjusted) increased +3.7k to 199.19k, down from 200.85k in the same week last year.
- Insured unemployment declined -15k to 1.953M for the week ending Aug 2; the 4-week average rose +500 to 1.951M.
- The insured unemployment rate (SA) held steady at 1.3% for a third consecutive week.
- Federal employee claims (UCFE) fell -71 to 637, but remained nearly double last year’s 332.
US initial jobless claims rose +7k to 226k (vs 221k expected) last week, while the 4-week moving average edged down -500 to 220.75k, signaling a still-stable but gradually softening labor market.
- Initial claims (NSA) declined -8.8k to 194.99k, down from 204.03k in the same week last year.
- Insured unemployment (SA) rose +38k to 1.974 million for the week ending July 26; the 4-week average rose +5k to 1.951 million.
- The insured unemployment rate (SA) remained unchanged at 1.3% for the fourth consecutive week.
- Federal employee claims (UCFE) dropped -14 to 708, but remained more than double the year-ago level of 312.
US initial jobless claims rose +1k to 218k (SA) for the week ending July 26, while the 4-week moving average fell -3.5k to 221k, suggesting continued stability in the labor market.
- Initial claims (NSA) dropped -22.9k to 193.1k, compared to 216.6k a year earlier.
- Insured unemployment (SA) was unchanged at 1.946 million for the week ending July 19; the 4-week average fell -2.5k to 1.949 million.
- The insured unemployment rate (SA) held steady at 1.3% for the third straight week.
- Federal employee (UCFE) claims declined -67 to 722, still well above the 387 level from the same week last year.
- Kentucky reports almost 5k layoffs in the manufacturing industry in the week of July 19th.