US weekly jobless claims dip in latest week

August 20, 2026 8:38 AM EDT

A "now hiring" sign is displayed on a local business after, U.S. employment growth slowed more than expected in July, in Encinitas, California, U.S. August 1, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Aug 20 (Reuters) - The ‌number ​of ​Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits slipped last week, suggesting that ‌the labor market remains stable despite ⁠a surprise drop in employment in July.

Initial claims ‌for state unemployment benefits ‌fell 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 206,000 for the week ended August ​15, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had ⁠forecast 210,000 claims for the latest week.

Claims are hovering in ​the lower end of their 189,000-230,000 range for this year, indicating ​that layoffs remain low ‌even if hiring is soft. The U.S. jobless rate ticked down ⁠again last month to 4.1%, a historically low level.

Labor market stability, together with signs ⁠of mild inflation, if sustained could allow the ​Federal Reserve to keep interest rates unchanged in September.

The number of people receiving unemployment benefits ‌after an initial week of aid, a proxy for hiring, rose ‌18,000 to a seasonally adjusted 1.799 ⁠million during the ‌week ended August ​8, the claims report showed.

(Reporting By Dan Burns; Editing by Chizu ‌Nomiyama)



Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

You May Also Be Interested In





Related Categories

Reuters