U.S. Unemployment Claims Data
Initial applications for U.S. unemployment benefits increased during the final week of 2025. Despite this rise, the number of filings remains historically low.
Indicators suggest a potential weakening trend within the labor market.
Weekly Figures
For the week ending January 3, the number of Americans filing for jobless claims increased by 8,000, reaching a total of 208,000. This represents an increase from the 200,000 recorded in the previous week.
This reported figure aligned with the expectations of analysts surveyed by FactSet. Applications for unemployment aid are commonly used as a proxy for layoffs and serve as a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.
Averages and Continuing Claims
The four-week average of claims, which smooths weekly volatility, decreased by 7,250, settling at 211,750.
The total number of Americans continuing to receive jobless benefits for the previous week ending December 27 increased by 56,000, reaching 1.91 million.