Initial unemployment claims dropped by 9,000 last week, indicating the labor market remains stable despite recent economic pressures.
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell to 215,000 for the week ending April 12, according to data released Thursday by the Department of Labor. This represents a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week’s revised level of 224,000.
The four-week moving average, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, declined to 220,750, down 2,500 from the previous week’s revised average.
Continued claims edge higher
While initial claims decreased, the number of people collecting unemployment benefits on a continuing basis increased. The insured unemployment rate held steady at 1.2% for the week ending April 5.
Continuing claims, which lag initial claims by one week, rose by 41,000 to 1,885,000 for the week ending April 5. This follows several weeks of fluctuation but remains within the range seen throughout early 2025.
The total number of people claiming benefits across all programs for the week ending March 29 was 2,015,012, down 75,341 from the previous week.
State-by-state trends show mixed picture
Several states reported significant changes in initial claims. California led states with decreases, showing 2,750 fewer claims. Tennessee also showed improvement with 2,615 fewer claims.
However, Kentucky saw a substantial increase of 4,306 claims, while Missouri experienced 2,002 more claims than the previous week.
The largest increases in claims for the week ending April 5 were in California (+5,410), Tennessee (+2,665), Oregon (+1,331), Virginia (+1,139), and Florida (+1,105).
Regional variations continue to reflect different economic conditions across the country, with manufacturing and educational services seeing notable activity in some areas.
The labor market data comes as businesses continue to navigate economic crosscurrents, including elevated interest rates and persistent inflation concerns, while maintaining relatively stable employment levels.
