Initial Jobless Claims This Week
Initial jobless claims were 189,000 in the week ending Oct 31, 2026, down 6,000 (3.1%) from 195,000 the week before. The four-week average was 194,750. A year earlier (Nov 1, 2025), the reading was 228,000.
Initial Jobless Claims: chart
Initial claims for state unemployment insurance, week ending Saturday, seasonally adjusted.
Latest readings
Weekly data| Week | Initial claims | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2026 | 189,000 | -6,000 |
| Oct 24, 2026 | 195,000 | 0 |
| Oct 17, 2026 | 195,000 | -5,000 |
| Oct 10, 2026 | 200,000 | +2,000 |
| Oct 3, 2026 | 198,000 | -1,000 |
| Sep 26, 2026 | 199,000 | +1,000 |
| Sep 19, 2026 | 198,000 | 0 |
| Sep 12, 2026 | 198,000 | -9,000 |
| Sep 5, 2026 | 207,000 | 0 |
| Aug 29, 2026 | 207,000 | +3,000 |
| Aug 22, 2026 | 204,000 | -3,000 |
| Aug 15, 2026 | 207,000 | -5,000 |
| Aug 8, 2026 | 212,000 | +12,000 |
| Aug 1, 2026 | 200,000 | +2,000 |
| Jul 25, 2026 | 198,000 | +9,000 |
| Jul 18, 2026 | 189,000 | -20,000 |
| Jul 11, 2026 | 209,000 | -8,000 |
| Jul 4, 2026 | 217,000 | 0 |
| Jun 27, 2026 | 217,000 | +1,000 |
| Jun 20, 2026 | 216,000 | -11,000 |
| Jun 13, 2026 | 227,000 | -3,000 |
| Jun 6, 2026 | 230,000 | +5,000 |
| May 30, 2026 | 225,000 | +13,000 |
| May 23, 2026 | 212,000 | +2,000 |
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All US economy indicators →Frequently asked questions
How many people filed for unemployment benefits this week?
Initial jobless claims were 189,000 in the week ending Oct 31, 2026, down 6,000 (3.1%) from 195,000 the week before. The four-week average was 194,750. A year earlier (Nov 1, 2025), the reading was 228,000.
What is the difference between initial and continuing claims?
Initial claims are new filings for unemployment benefits — a measure of fresh layoffs. Continuing claims count people still receiving benefits after their first week, which shows how hard it is for laid-off workers to find a new job.
Why look at the 4-week average of jobless claims?
Weekly claims are noisy: holidays, seasonal shutdowns, storms and state processing changes can move them sharply. The four-week moving average smooths that noise and makes the underlying trend easier to see.
Why do layoffs and jobless claims matter for stocks?
Layoffs reduce household income and spending, which feeds through to corporate revenue. A clear upturn in claims has historically been an early sign that the economy is slowing, often leading the Fed to cut rates.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, via FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (series ICSA). Data checked Nov 6, 5:40 PM ET. Not investment advice.