Initial jobless claims count the new applications for unemployment insurance filed in the United States during a week. Published every Thursday by the Department of Labor, it is the highest-frequency labour-market indicator there is — and the noisiest.
Latest reading 206,000 claims · Aug 2026
3,113 published readings, from Jan 1967 to Aug 2026
| Period | Value · claims |
|---|---|
| 29 Aug 26 | 206,000 |
| 22 Aug 26 | 204,000 |
| 15 Aug 26 | 207,000 |
| 8 Aug 26 | 212,000 |
| 1 Aug 26 | 200,000 |
| 25 Jul 26 | 198,000 |
| 18 Jul 26 | 189,000 |
| 11 Jul 26 | 209,000 |
| 4 Jul 26 | 217,000 |
| 27 Jun 26 | 217,000 |
| 20 Jun 26 | 216,000 |
| 13 Jun 26 | 227,000 |