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6mo ago

U.S. Jobless Claims Rise to 235,000 as Continuing Claims Reach Highest Since 2021

Economists call the uptick an early sign of cooling that needs confirmation beyond a single volatile reading.

A "we're hiring" sign is displayed on the door of a local business, after U.S. employment growth slowed more than expected in July, in Encinitas, California, U.S. August 1, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo
FILE - A hiring sign is displayed at a restaurant in Mount Prospect, Ill., Aug. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, file)
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Overview

  • Initial claims increased by 11,000 to 235,000 for the week ended Aug. 16, topping forecasts of 225,000.
  • Continuing claims rose by 30,000 to 1.972 million for the week ended Aug. 9, the highest since November 2021, while the insured unemployment rate held at 1.3%.
  • The four-week moving average of new applications ticked up to 226,250, the highest in a month.
  • Recent hiring has been subdued, with employment gains averaging about 35,000 per month over the past three months.
  • Analysts flag post‑pandemic seasonal‑adjustment distortions and say a sustained rise would be needed to confirm a downshift; several firms have announced layoffs, with some pointing to tariff-related cost pressures.