Latest count
194,000 Oct 24, 2026
Initial Jobless Claims
Down from 221,000 a year earlier.
Where the count of initial jobless claims stands now
The count of initial jobless claims was 194,000 in the week ending Oct 24, 2026. Since 1967 it has ranged from 162,000 in the week ending Nov 30, 1968 to 6.1 million in the week ending Apr 4, 2020. It has been lower than the week before for two weeks in a row.
What it means for households: U.S. Unemployment & Job Market Statistics Behind on Your Mortgage?
How the count of initial jobless claims has moved since 1967
Initial Unemployment Claims (SA): down since 2023
Initial unemployment insurance claims, seasonally adjusted: 194,000 in the week ending Oct 24, 2026, down from 221,000 a year earlier. Weekly, 1967–2026.
What the count of initial jobless claims measures
A higher count is worse for households.
In our research, changes in this measure have tended to show up in Unemployment Rate about one quarter later. How we tested this
How the count of initial jobless claims feeds the American Distress Index
The American Distress Index (ADI) is our quarterly 0–100 score of how much financial strain U.S. households are under. Jobs are one of its five equal parts, and the count of initial jobless claims is one of the two jobs measures inside that part.
In the second quarter of 2026, the count of initial jobless claims was higher than in 8% of the quarters since 1967, so it held the score down. The index stood at 47.0, which we call Typical.
Count of initial jobless claims by week, 1967 to 2026
| Week | Count | Change from a year earlier |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 24, 2026 | 194K | −27K |
| Oct 17, 2026 | 195K | −36K |
| Oct 10, 2026 | 200K | −22K |
| Oct 3, 2026 | 198K | −35K |
| Sep 26, 2026 | 199K | −26K |
| Sep 19, 2026 | 198K | −21K |
| Sep 12, 2026 | 198K | −35K |
| Sep 5, 2026 | 207K | −52K |
| Aug 29, 2026 | 207K | −29K |
| Aug 22, 2026 | 204K | −25K |
| Aug 15, 2026 | 207K | −26K |
| Aug 8, 2026 | 212K | −12K |
| Aug 1, 2026 | 200K | −26K |
| Jul 25, 2026 | 198K | −21K |
| Jul 18, 2026 | 189K | −29K |
| Jul 11, 2026 | 209K | −12K |
| Jul 4, 2026 | 217K | −11K |
| Jun 27, 2026 | 217K | −14K |
| Jun 20, 2026 | 216K | −20K |
| Jun 13, 2026 | 227K | −16K |
| Jun 6, 2026 | 230K | −16K |
| May 30, 2026 | 225K | −19K |
| May 23, 2026 | 212K | −24K |
| May 16, 2026 | 210K | −15K |
| May 9, 2026 | 212K | −14K |
| May 2, 2026 | 199K | −29K |
| Apr 25, 2026 | 190K | −49K |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 215K | −9K |
| Apr 11, 2026 | 208K | −9K |
| Apr 4, 2026 | 218K | −5K |
| Mar 28, 2026 | 203K | −17K |
| Mar 21, 2026 | 211K | −13K |
| Mar 14, 2026 | 205K | −20K |
| Mar 7, 2026 | 213K | −9K |
| Feb 28, 2026 | 214K | −10K |
| Feb 21, 2026 | 211K | −30K |
| Feb 14, 2026 | 208K | −15K |
| Feb 7, 2026 | 230K | +14K |
| Jan 31, 2026 | 230K | +10K |
| Jan 24, 2026 | 211K | −1K |
| Jan 17, 2026 | 210K | −13K |
| Jan 10, 2026 | 201K | −18K |
| Jan 3, 2026 | 207K | +1K |
| Dec 27, 2025 | 203K | −9K |
| Dec 20, 2025 | 215K | −4K |
| Dec 13, 2025 | 224K | +2K |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 235K | −3K |
| Nov 29, 2025 | 216K | −6K |
| Nov 22, 2025 | 218K | −1K |
| Nov 15, 2025 | 222K | +6K |
| Nov 8, 2025 | 228K | +10K |
| Nov 1, 2025 | 228K | +7K |
| Oct 25, 2025 | 221K | +2K |
| Oct 18, 2025 | 231K | +4K |
| Oct 11, 2025 | 222K | −19K |
| Oct 4, 2025 | 233K | −25K |
| Sep 27, 2025 | 225K | −2K |
| Sep 20, 2025 | 219K | −2K |
| Sep 13, 2025 | 233K | +10K |
| Sep 6, 2025 | 259K | +32K |
| Aug 30, 2025 | 236K | +9K |
| Aug 23, 2025 | 229K | −3K |
| Aug 16, 2025 | 233K | +1K |
| Aug 9, 2025 | 224K | −4K |
| Aug 2, 2025 | 226K | −8K |
| Jul 26, 2025 | 219K | −29K |
| Jul 19, 2025 | 218K | −19K |
| Jul 12, 2025 | 221K | −20K |
| Jul 5, 2025 | 228K | +5K |
| Jun 28, 2025 | 231K | −7K |
| Jun 21, 2025 | 236K | +3K |
| Jun 14, 2025 | 243K | +7K |
| Jun 7, 2025 | 246K | +6K |
| May 31, 2025 | 244K | +17K |
| May 24, 2025 | 236K | +16K |
| May 17, 2025 | 225K | +9K |
| May 10, 2025 | 226K | +4K |
| May 3, 2025 | 228K | −2K |
| Apr 26, 2025 | 239K | +32K |
| Apr 19, 2025 | 224K | +15K |
| Apr 12, 2025 | 217K | +5K |
| Apr 5, 2025 | 223K | +10K |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 220K | −3K |
| Mar 22, 2025 | 224K | +10K |
| Mar 15, 2025 | 225K | +12K |
| Mar 8, 2025 | 222K | +9K |
| Mar 1, 2025 | 224K | +11K |
| Feb 22, 2025 | 241K | +29K |
| Feb 15, 2025 | 223K | +21K |
| Feb 8, 2025 | 216K | +3K |
| Feb 1, 2025 | 220K | +7K |
| Jan 25, 2025 | 212K | −14K |
| Jan 18, 2025 | 223K | −1K |
| Jan 11, 2025 | 219K | +24K |
| Jan 4, 2025 | 206K | +5K |
| Dec 28, 2024 | 212K | +12K |
| Dec 21, 2024 | 219K | +7K |
| Dec 14, 2024 | 222K | +13K |
| Dec 7, 2024 | 238K | +35K |
| Nov 30, 2024 | 222K | +7K |
| Nov 23, 2024 | 219K | +6K |
| Nov 16, 2024 | 216K | +3K |
| Nov 9, 2024 | 218K | −12K |
| Nov 2, 2024 | 221K | +5K |
| Oct 26, 2024 | 219K | +2K |
| Oct 19, 2024 | 227K | +13K |
| Oct 12, 2024 | 241K | +41K |
| Oct 5, 2024 | 258K | +48K |
| Sep 28, 2024 | 227K | +11K |
| Sep 21, 2024 | 221K | +5K |
| Sep 14, 2024 | 223K | +12K |
| Sep 7, 2024 | 227K | +2K |
| Aug 31, 2024 | 227K | +2K |
| Aug 24, 2024 | 232K | −2K |
| Aug 17, 2024 | 232K | −8K |
| Aug 10, 2024 | 228K | −20K |
| Aug 3, 2024 | 234K | −24K |
| Jul 27, 2024 | 248K | +10K |
| Jul 20, 2024 | 237K | +6K |
| Jul 13, 2024 | 241K | +12K |
| Jul 6, 2024 | 223K | −7K |
| Jun 29, 2024 | 238K | −10K |
| Jun 22, 2024 | 233K | −3K |
| Jun 15, 2024 | 236K | −23K |
| Jun 8, 2024 | 240K | −16K |
| Jun 1, 2024 | 227K | −25K |
| May 25, 2024 | 220K | −9K |
| May 18, 2024 | 216K | −11K |
| May 11, 2024 | 222K | −3K |
| May 4, 2024 | 230K | +7K |
| Apr 27, 2024 | 207K | −6K |
| Apr 20, 2024 | 209K | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2024 | 212K | −11K |
| Apr 6, 2024 | 213K | −7K |
| Mar 30, 2024 | 223K | +6K |
| Mar 23, 2024 | 214K | −20K |
| Mar 16, 2024 | 213K | −17K |
| Mar 9, 2024 | 213K | −9K |
| Mar 2, 2024 | 213K | −17K |
| Feb 24, 2024 | 212K | +5K |
| Feb 17, 2024 | 202K | −15K |
| Feb 10, 2024 | 213K | −7K |
| Feb 3, 2024 | 213K | −2K |
| Jan 27, 2024 | 226K | +26K |
| Jan 20, 2024 | 224K | +20K |
| Jan 13, 2024 | 195K | −9K |
| Jan 6, 2024 | 201K | −9K |
| Dec 30, 2023 | 200K | −5K |
| Dec 23, 2023 | 212K | +7K |
| Dec 16, 2023 | 209K | −4K |
| Dec 9, 2023 | 203K | −6K |
| Dec 2, 2023 | 215K | +6K |
| Nov 25, 2023 | 213K | +4K |
| Nov 18, 2023 | 213K | −7K |
| Nov 11, 2023 | 230K | +20K |
| Nov 4, 2023 | 216K | +12K |
| Oct 28, 2023 | 217K | +15K |
| Oct 21, 2023 | 214K | +12K |
| Oct 14, 2023 | 200K | +1K |
| Oct 7, 2023 | 210K | +3K |
| Sep 30, 2023 | 216K | +13K |
| Sep 23, 2023 | 216K | +26K |
| Sep 16, 2023 | 211K | +9K |
| Sep 9, 2023 | 225K | +30K |
| Sep 2, 2023 | 225K | +22K |
| Aug 26, 2023 | 234K | +24K |
| Aug 19, 2023 | 240K | +25K |
| Aug 12, 2023 | 248K | +28K |
| Aug 5, 2023 | 258K | +37K |
| Jul 29, 2023 | 238K | +10K |
| Jul 22, 2023 | 231K | +10K |
| Jul 15, 2023 | 229K | +13K |
| Jul 8, 2023 | 230K | +18K |
| Jul 1, 2023 | 248K | +34K |
| Jun 24, 2023 | 236K | +24K |
| Jun 17, 2023 | 259K | +45K |
| Jun 10, 2023 | 256K | +45K |
| Jun 3, 2023 | 252K | +39K |
| May 27, 2023 | 229K | +30K |
| May 20, 2023 | 227K | +16K |
| May 13, 2023 | 225K | 0 |
| May 6, 2023 | 223K | +19K |
| Apr 29, 2023 | 213K | −5K |
| Apr 22, 2023 | 209K | 0 |
| Apr 15, 2023 | 223K | +13K |
| Apr 8, 2023 | 220K | +6K |
| Apr 1, 2023 | 217K | +3K |
| Mar 25, 2023 | 234K | +20K |
| Mar 18, 2023 | 230K | +23K |
| Mar 11, 2023 | 222K | +5K |
| Mar 4, 2023 | 230K | +8K |
| Feb 25, 2023 | 207K | −1K |
| Feb 18, 2023 | 217K | −7K |
| Feb 11, 2023 | 220K | −14K |
| Feb 4, 2023 | 215K | +5K |
| Jan 28, 2023 | 200K | −31K |
| Jan 21, 2023 | 204K | −36K |
| Jan 14, 2023 | 204K | −42K |
| Jan 7, 2023 | 210K | −40K |
| Dec 31, 2022 | 205K | −24K |
| Dec 24, 2022 | 205K | −12K |
| Dec 17, 2022 | 213K | −2K |
| Dec 10, 2022 | 209K | −18K |
| Dec 3, 2022 | 209K | +3K |
| Nov 26, 2022 | 209K | −12K |
| Nov 19, 2022 | 220K | −4K |
| Nov 12, 2022 | 210K | −40K |
| Nov 5, 2022 | 204K | −47K |
| Oct 29, 2022 | 202K | −59K |
| Oct 22, 2022 | 202K | −67K |
| Oct 15, 2022 | 199K | −90K |
| Oct 8, 2022 | 207K | −84K |
| Oct 1, 2022 | 203K | −109K |
| Sep 24, 2022 | 190K | −185K |
| Sep 17, 2022 | 202K | −165K |
| Sep 10, 2022 | 195K | −147K |
| Sep 3, 2022 | 203K | −132K |
| Aug 27, 2022 | 210K | −143K |
| Aug 20, 2022 | 215K | −143K |
| Aug 13, 2022 | 220K | −147K |
| Aug 6, 2022 | 221K | −140K |
| Jul 30, 2022 | 228K | −151K |
| Jul 23, 2022 | 221K | −159K |
| Jul 16, 2022 | 216K | −171K |
| Jul 9, 2022 | 212K | −121K |
| Jul 2, 2022 | 214K | −157K |
| Jun 25, 2022 | 212K | −156K |
| Jun 18, 2022 | 214K | −208K |
| Jun 11, 2022 | 211K | −217K |
| Jun 4, 2022 | 213K | −207K |
| May 28, 2022 | 199K | −228K |
| May 21, 2022 | 211K | −230K |
| May 14, 2022 | 225K | −242K |
| May 7, 2022 | 204K | −290K |
| Apr 30, 2022 | 218K | −299K |
| Apr 23, 2022 | 209K | −365K |
| Apr 16, 2022 | 210K | −356K |
| Apr 9, 2022 | 214K | −357K |
| Apr 2, 2022 | 214K | −431K |
| Mar 26, 2022 | 214K | −444K |
| Mar 19, 2022 | 207K | −420K |
| Mar 12, 2022 | 217K | −482K |
| Mar 5, 2022 | 222K | −471K |
| Feb 26, 2022 | 208K | −496K |
| Feb 19, 2022 | 224K | −478K |
| Feb 12, 2022 | 234K | −568K |
| Feb 5, 2022 | 210K | −602K |
| Jan 29, 2022 | 231K | −572K |
| Jan 22, 2022 | 240K | −559K |
| Jan 15, 2022 | 246K | −598K |
| Jan 8, 2022 | 250K | −640K |
| Jan 1, 2022 | 229K | −574K |
| Dec 25, 2021 | 217K | −556K |
| Dec 18, 2021 | 215K | −600K |
| Dec 11, 2021 | 227K | −659K |
| Dec 4, 2021 | 206K | −667K |
| Nov 27, 2021 | 221K | −516K |
| Nov 20, 2021 | 224K | −569K |
| Nov 13, 2021 | 250K | −488K |
| Nov 6, 2021 | 251K | −486K |
| Oct 30, 2021 | 261K | −512K |
| Oct 23, 2021 | 269K | −507K |
| Oct 16, 2021 | 289K | −515K |
| Oct 9, 2021 | 291K | −548K |
| Oct 2, 2021 | 312K | −473K |
| Sep 25, 2021 | 375K | −420K |
| Sep 18, 2021 | 367K | −492K |
| Sep 11, 2021 | 342K | −519K |
| Sep 4, 2021 | 335K | −557K |
| Aug 28, 2021 | 353K | −528K |
| Aug 21, 2021 | 358K | −518K |
| Aug 14, 2021 | 367K | −560K |
| Aug 7, 2021 | 361K | −523K |
| Jul 31, 2021 | 379K | −665K |
| Jul 24, 2021 | 380K | −880K |
| Jul 17, 2021 | 387K | −1.006M |
| Jul 10, 2021 | 333K | −1.135M |
| Jul 3, 2021 | 371K | −1.042M |
| Jun 26, 2021 | 368K | −1.078M |
| Jun 19, 2021 | 422K | −1.045M |
| Jun 12, 2021 | 428K | −1.045M |
| Jun 5, 2021 | 420K | −1.155M |
| May 29, 2021 | 427K | −1.212M |
| May 22, 2021 | 441K | −1.48M |
| May 15, 2021 | 467K | −1.709M |
| May 8, 2021 | 494K | −1.841M |
| May 1, 2021 | 517K | −2.279M |
| Apr 24, 2021 | 574K | −2.872M |
| Apr 17, 2021 | 566K | −3.635M |
| Apr 10, 2021 | 571K | −4.298M |
| Apr 3, 2021 | 645K | −5.492M |
| Mar 27, 2021 | 658K | −5.288M |
| Mar 20, 2021 | 627K | −2.287M |
| Mar 13, 2021 | 699K | +426K |
| Mar 6, 2021 | 693K | +485K |
| Feb 27, 2021 | 704K | +489K |
| Feb 20, 2021 | 702K | +484K |
| Feb 13, 2021 | 802K | +593K |
| Feb 6, 2021 | 812K | +610K |
| Jan 30, 2021 | 803K | +596K |
Weekly · U.S. Department of Labor data retrieved via FRED (ICSA)
Counties with the highest labor scores
There's no county figure for this measure, so this list uses the labor part of our County Distress Index.
| Rank | County | Score (0–100) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apache County, AZ | 99.2 |
| 2 | Mingo County, WV | 98.7 |
| 3 | Navajo County, AZ | 97.3 |
| 4 | Luna County, NM | 97.2 |
| 5 | McKinley County, NM | 96.8 |
| 6 | Lake County, CA | 96.8 |
| 7 | Clare County, MI | 96.6 |
| 8 | Harlan County, KY | 96.2 |
| 9 | Wyoming County, WV | 96.2 |
| 10 | Pike County, KY | 96.1 |
Questions about new unemployment claims
How many initial jobless claims were filed last week?
DOL's first seasonally adjusted count for the latest week is 194,000, 27,000 fewer than in the same week a year earlier. That is the week ending Oct 24, 2026, and the figure will be revised in the next weekly release.
Is this the number of people laid off?
No. It counts claims filed with state unemployment insurance programs, not layoffs or people. A person can file more than one claim in a benefit year, and a claim is a request for an eligibility ruling, not a benefit paid. Announced job cuts and employer-reported layoffs are separate measures from other sources.
How do initial claims connect to the American Distress Index?
Initial claims are one of the two inputs to the ADI's labor domain, alongside the unemployment rate. The ADI's five domains carry equal weight, so the labor domain is one-fifth of the composite.
When are initial claims released?
Every Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Eastern, for the week that ended the previous Saturday. A holiday can move the day. FRED labels each week by that Saturday, not by the release date. The data start in 1967.
Sources and method for the count of initial jobless claims
- U.S. Department of Labor data retrieved via FRED (ICSA) We use the weekly figures as published, from the week ending Jan 7, 1967 through the week ending Oct 24, 2026, with no adjustment of our own. U.S. Department of Labor’s report
- American Default Research · American Distress Index American Default Research uses this count in the American Distress Index.
We write with assistance from AI tools. Figures come from the data and sources named on this page.