The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose for a second straight week to 744 thousand in the April 3rd week, from the previous period's revised figure of 728 thousand and above market expectations of 680 thousand. Still, claims remained below the 800 thousand level for a seventh consecutive period, adding to signs that the recovery of the labor market is gathering pace helped by the rapid vaccine rollout program and the government's massive $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package. The weekly report followed on the heels of news last week that nonfarm employment rose by 916 thousand in March, the most in seven months, while the number of job openings hit in February their highest level in two years. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, initial claims were up to 741 thousand, from 723 thousand in the previous week, led by larger increases in the states of California, New York and Virginia. On the other hand, Alabama, Ohio and Texas reported the largest declines. source: U.S. Department of Labor

Initial Jobless Claims in the United States averaged 371.41 Thousand from 1967 until 2021, reaching an all time high of 6149 Thousand in April of 2020 and a record low of 162 Thousand in November of 1968. This page provides the latest reported value for - United States Initial Jobless Claims - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. United States Initial Jobless Claims - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on April of 2021.

Initial Jobless Claims in the United States is expected to be 500.00 Thousand by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Initial Jobless Claims in the United States to stand at 300.00 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the United States Initial Jobless Claims is projected to trend around 270.00 Thousand in 2022, according to our econometric models.

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United States Initial Jobless Claims

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
744.00 728.00 6149.00 162.00 1967 - 2021 Thousand Weekly
Volume, SA


Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2021-03-18 12:30 PM 13/Mar 770K 725K 700K 675K
2021-03-25 12:30 PM 20/Mar 684K 781K 730K 695K
2021-04-01 12:30 PM 27/Mar 719K 658K 680K 650K
2021-04-08 12:30 PM 03/Apr 744K 728K 680K 675K
2021-04-15 12:30 PM 10/Apr 744K 700K 715K
2021-04-22 12:30 PM 17/Apr
2021-04-29 12:30 PM 24/Apr
2021-05-06 12:30 PM 01/May
Go to our Calendar for more events. Or learn more about the Calendar API for direct access.


News Stream
US Initial Jobless Claims Rise for 2nd Week
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose for a second straight week to 744 thousand in the April 3rd week, from the previous period's revised figure of 728 thousand and above market expectations of 680 thousand. Still, claims remained below the 800 thousand level for a seventh consecutive period, adding to signs that the recovery of the labor market is gathering pace helped by the rapid vaccine rollout program and the government's massive $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package. The weekly report followed on the heels of news last week that nonfarm employment rose by 916 thousand in March, the most in seven months, while the number of job openings hit in February their highest level in two years. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, initial claims were up to 741 thousand, from 723 thousand in the previous week, led by larger increases in the states of California, New York and Virginia. On the other hand, Alabama, Ohio and Texas reported the largest declines.
2021-04-08
US Jobless Claims Seen Dropping to 680K
Initial jobless claims are seen falling to 680 thousand in the beginning of April, following an unexpected increase last week to 719 thousand. Claims hit 658 thousand in the March 20th week, their lowest level in a year, as more businesses reopened due to the vaccine rollout programme and the government's massive $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package. Meanwhile, continuing claims are seen declining to 3.65 million in the March 27th week from 3.79 million the week before, but remaining well above February 2020 levels.
2021-04-08
US Weekly Jobless Claims Unexpectedly Rise
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose to 719 thousand in the week ended March 27th, from last week's 658 thousand and above market expectations of 680 thousand. Still, claims remained close to their lowest level in a year, as more businesses reopened thanks to the vaccine rollout programme and the government's massive $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package. The 4-week moving average, which removes week-to-week volatility, declined also to 719 thousand, the lowest since March 2020. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, initial claims were up to 714 thousand, from 651 thousand in the previous week, led by larger increases in the states of Virginia, Georgia and Kentucky.
2021-04-01
US Initial Jobless Claims Set to Fall to New 1-Year Low
Initial jobless claims are seen falling to 680 thousand in the March 27th week, lowest since the pandemic hit the labor market in March 2020. Claims are expected to fall in the coming weeks following the approval of President Biden's relief package in early March and as several states ease coronavirus-induced restrictions amid the rapid pace of vaccination. Meanwhile, continuing claims are seen declining to 3.775 million in the March 20th week from 3.870 million the week before, but remaining well above February 2020 levels.
2021-04-01

United States Initial Jobless Claims
Initial jobless claims have a big impact in financial markets because unlike continued claims data which measures the number of persons claiming unemployment benefits, Initial jobless claims measures new and emerging unemployment.