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United States Initial jobless claims 2026: Interactive Chart & Historical Data

Initial jobless claims in United States stood at 189,000 persons on 31 Oct 2026, according to FRED. The latest value is down 14% from a year earlier (221,000 persons on 25 Oct 2025). Ten years earlier, on 29 Oct 2016, the value was 265,000 persons (down 29% since). The highest value since 1967 was 6.137 million persons on 4 Apr 2020, the lowest 162,000 persons on 30 Nov 1968.

Data source: FRED · Unit: persons · Category: Labor and Employment · Explore more indicators on EconDash

Data updated:Last checked:Frequency:WeeklyCoverage:1967–2026
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What is Initial jobless claims?

Initial jobless claims, measured in persons, reflects labor market conditions in United States, indicating the balance between available workers and job openings. It serves as a crucial signal of economic health, consumer spending capacity, and social stability. Labor market data typically includes multiple dimensions: unemployment rates, employment-to-population ratios, labor force participation, and wage growth. Each metric captures different aspects of job market dynamics — for example, the unemployment rate counts only those actively seeking work, while the participation rate reveals how many working-age people are engaged in the labor market. In United States, labor statistics are gathered through household surveys, employer reports, and administrative records like unemployment benefit claims. Changes in Initial jobless claims often precede broader economic shifts: rising unemployment typically signals slowing economic activity, while tightening labor markets may foreshadow wage pressures and inflation.

Key facts

What is the latest Initial jobless claims in United States?

Initial jobless claims in United States stood at 189,000 persons on 31 Oct 2026, according to FRED.

Is Initial jobless claims in United States rising or falling?

The latest value is down 14% from a year earlier (221,000 persons on 25 Oct 2025). Ten years earlier, on 29 Oct 2016, the value was 265,000 persons (down 29% since).

What is the highest Initial jobless claims on record in United States?

The highest value since 1967 was 6.137 million persons on 4 Apr 2020, the lowest 162,000 persons on 30 Nov 1968.

Metadata for Initial jobless claims in United States
IndicatorInitial jobless claims
CountryUnited States
CategoryLabor and Employment
Unitpersons
SourceFRED
Interactive chartView on EconDash
API accessEconDash API documentation

Current rate: 189,000 persons (2026-10-31)

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Source:U.S. Employment and Training Administration via FRED — series ICSA
License:U.S. government work, citation requested
Cite this chart
APA

U.S. Employment and Training Administration. (2026). Initial jobless claims — United States [Data set]. Retrieved November 13, 2026, from EconDash: https://econdash.org/chart/initial-jobless-claims/USA. Original source: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/ICSA

MLA

U.S. Employment and Training Administration. "Initial jobless claims — United States." EconDash, 2026, https://econdash.org/chart/initial-jobless-claims/USA. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026. Original source: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/ICSA.

Chicago

U.S. Employment and Training Administration. 2026. "Initial jobless claims — United States." EconDash. Accessed November 13, 2026. https://econdash.org/chart/initial-jobless-claims/USA. Original source: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/ICSA.

BibTeX
@misc{econdash_initial_jobless_claims_usa,
  author = {{U.S. Employment and Training Administration}},
  title = {{Initial jobless claims --- United States}},
  howpublished = {EconDash},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://econdash.org/chart/initial-jobless-claims/USA},
  note = {Accessed: 2026-11-13. Original source: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/ICSA}
}