Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 200,000 in the week ended November 7, the Labor Department said on Thursday, above the 195,000 economists polled by Reuters had forecast, with the four-week moving average unchanged at 195,250. Continuing claims, a proxy for hiring, fell 20,000 to 1.697 million in the week ended October 31, and the insured unemployment rate held at 1.1 percent. Claims have stayed at or below 200,000 since mid-September and remain close to the 189,000 touched in mid-July, the lowest since 1969, Reuters reported.
US jobless claims rise to 200,000, labor market steady
Initial claims for US unemployment benefits rose 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 200,000 in the week ended November 7, above the 195,000 forecast, while continuing claims fell 20,000 to 1.697 million.
Why it matters: Claims have held at or below 200,000 since mid-September, a level consistent with a stable or tightening labor market that leaves the Federal Reserve free to focus on inflation into its December meeting.
Data as of US Department of Labor release of November 12, 2026, read in full via its verbatim carrying (the dol.gov release text as carried by Forex Factory) and corroborated by Reuters reporting of the same release, read in full; the item first surfaced via Yonhap, in Korean. The previous week's claims were revised up by 2,000 to 191,000. Developing item.
Sources
- Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims report, week ended November 7, 2026 - US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration - 2026-11-12
- US weekly jobless claims increase, but labor market remains stable - Reuters - 2026-11-12
- US weekly new jobless claims 200,000, labor market stability continues - Yonhap News Agency - 2026-11-12