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Initial jobless claims

New applications for unemployment benefits each week. One of the quickest signs of layoffs. Learn more.

197,000
Latest, Sep 19, 2026 (claims per week)
-1,000
Change from Sep 12, 2026
233,000
A year earlier (Sep 13, 2025)
Oct 2, 2021Range 189,000 to 312,000Sep 19, 2026

Recent readings

Full history on FRED
DateValueChange
Sep 19, 2026197,000-1,000
Sep 12, 2026198,000-9,000
Sep 5, 2026207,0000
Aug 29, 2026207,000+3,000
Aug 22, 2026204,000-3,000
Aug 15, 2026207,000-5,000
Aug 8, 2026212,000+12,000
Aug 1, 2026200,000+2,000
Jul 25, 2026198,000+9,000
Jul 18, 2026189,000-20,000
Jul 11, 2026209,000-8,000
Jul 4, 2026217,0000

More in jobs

All economic data
Unemployment rateNonfarm payrollsJob openingsAverage hourly earningsLabor force participation

Source: FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Series ICSA.