This weekly report tracks the number of individuals who filed for unemployment insurance for the first time during the past week. It serves as a high-frequency indicator of the health of the labor market and the broader economy. A rising trend suggests a cooling labor market, while a declining trend indicates strengthening employment conditions.
The data is collected by the Department of Labor from state-level unemployment insurance offices. It counts all initial filings for benefits under the state programs for the week ending the previous Saturday.
| Date | Actual | Forecast | Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2026 | 21.50 | 10.00 | +11.50 |
| Jul 28, 2026 | 5.90 | 15.00 | -9.10 |
| Jun 26, 2026 | 15.50 | -12.00 | +27.50 |
| May 29, 2026 | -9.00 | 23.00 | -32.00 |
| Apr 28, 2026 | 35.60 | 17.00 | +18.60 |
| Mar 27, 2026 | -8.50 | 15.00 | -23.50 |
| Feb 27, 2026 | -26.90 | 7.50 | -34.40 |
| Jan 29, 2026 | -11.90 | 19.50 | -31.40 |
| Dec 29, 2025 | -21.50 | 45.00 | -66.50 |
| Nov 28, 2025 | 68.80 | 25.10 | +43.70 |
| Oct 28, 2025 | 60.20 | 28.00 | +32.20 |
| Sep 26, 2025 | -11.70 | 25.10 | -36.80 |
| Aug 27, 2025 | 52.90 | -14.00 | +66.90 |
| Jul 29, 2025 | -21.60 | 25.00 | -46.60 |
| Jun 25, 2025 | -11.20 | 38.00 | -49.20 |
| May 27, 2025 | -175.90 | -20.00 | -155.90 |
| Apr 28, 2025 | -28.50 | 15.00 | -43.50 |
| Mar 26, 2025 | 67.00 | 65.00 | +2.00 |
| Feb 27, 2025 | 204.80 | 15.00 | +189.80 |
| Jan 27, 2025 | 21.80 | 10.00 | +11.80 |
| Dec 26, 2024 | 43.50 | 60.00 | -16.50 |
| Nov 27, 2024 | 53.60 | 30.00 | +23.60 |
| Oct 25, 2024 | 42.20 | 4.30 | +37.90 |
| Sep 25, 2024 | -12.70 | -15.00 | +2.30 |
| Aug 28, 2024 | -26.10 | 12.00 | -38.10 |
| Jul 25, 2024 | 18.20 | 8.90 | +9.30 |
| Jun 26, 2024 | 40.90 | -17.00 | +57.90 |
| May 28, 2024 | -36.80 | -12.00 | -24.80 |
| Apr 25, 2024 | -8.40 | -10.00 | +1.60 |
| Mar 27, 2024 | -15.80 | 12.30 | -28.10 |
| Feb 27, 2024 | 2.50 | -6.20 | +8.70 |
| Jan 25, 2024 | -1.40 | 9.40 | -10.80 |
| Dec 28, 2023 | 5.20 | 15.10 | -9.90 |
| Nov 27, 2023 | 9.20 | 25.10 | -15.90 |
| Oct 25, 2023 | -15.40 | 37.00 | -52.40 |
| Sep 27, 2023 | 11.00 | 25.10 | -14.10 |
| Aug 25, 2023 | 23.80 | -10.00 | +33.80 |
| Jul 26, 2023 | -13.20 | 15.00 | -28.20 |
| Jun 27, 2023 | 6.20 | 5.10 | +1.10 |
| May 26, 2023 | 10.80 | -5.00 | +15.80 |
| Apr 26, 2023 | -11.10 | 9.00 | -20.10 |
| Mar 27, 2023 | -27.70 | 6.00 | -33.70 |
| Feb 27, 2023 | -8.10 | 8.00 | -16.10 |
| Jan 25, 2023 | 6.20 | 12.00 | -5.80 |
| Dec 27, 2022 | -64.70 | 6.00 | -70.70 |
| Nov 25, 2022 | -30.70 | -4.00 | -26.70 |
| Oct 26, 2022 | -60.00 | 7.00 | -67.00 |
| Sep 27, 2022 | -1.00 | 36.00 | -37.00 |
| Aug 25, 2022 | 20.30 | 9.00 | +11.30 |
| Jul 27, 2022 | 13.60 | -3.00 | +16.60 |
| Date | First print | Current | Revision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 27, 2026 | 17.7 | -8.50 | -26.2 ↓ |
