Initial claims for U.S. unemployment benefits ticked up slightly last week, but broader indicators suggest continued labor market stability, according to data released Thursday by the Department of Labor.
For the week ending April 5, seasonally adjusted initial claims rose to 223,000, an increase of 4,000 from the prior week’s unrevised level. The four-week moving average, which smooths week-to-week volatility, remained unchanged at 223,000.
The number of continuing claims—people who remain on unemployment benefits after their initial claim—dropped to 1.85 million for the week ending March 29. That figure is down by 43,000 from the revised level of the previous week, and the lowest level recorded since early February. The insured unemployment rate held steady at 1.2 percent.
Minor movements signal steady job market
Unadjusted data shows initial claims increased by 7.7 percent week-over-week to 215,392, slightly more than the seasonal forecast. Year over year, the total was nearly identical, with 215,265 initial claims filed during the same week in 2024.
The volume of continued weeks claimed across all unemployment insurance programs declined by 15,233 to just over 2.09 million for the week ending March 22. That includes benefits claimed by former federal employees and recently discharged veterans.
No states triggered the Extended Benefits program during that period, a sign that long-term unemployment remains subdued.
State-level shifts reflect sector-specific layoffs
Several states reported notable increases in new claims. Kentucky saw the largest weekly jump with 2,810 additional filings, primarily due to layoffs in manufacturing. Illinois followed with a rise of 1,286 claims, with layoffs concentrated in transportation, warehousing, construction, and retail.
By contrast, the largest decreases in claims were reported in Texas and Pennsylvania, which saw declines of 765 and 755, respectively.
Rhode Island posted the highest insured unemployment rate at 2.7 percent, followed by New Jersey at 2.6 percent and California at 2.4 percent.
Broader context
Weekly unemployment claims serve as an early signal of changes in the labor market. Initial claims are a leading indicator of economic conditions, while continuing claims offer insight into longer-term employment disruptions.
Though initial claims edged higher this week, the overall trend suggests that the U.S. labor market remains resilient amid ongoing economic uncertainty.
