US jobless claims rise slightly to 200,000 but remain historically low

The US Labor Department reported that jobless claims increased to 200,000 last week from a revised 191,000 the previous week, according to ABC News.

Despite the rise, claims remain at historically low levels, with layoffs being infrequent and most workers experiencing strong job security.

The four-week average of claims held steady at 195,250, reflecting consistent low unemployment benefit applications over recent weeks.

Economists monitor jobless claims as indicators of labor market trends; claims have stayed at or below 200,000 for nine consecutive weeks this year.

Employers have been adding an average of 86,000 jobs per month in 2026, including a strong gain of 165,000 jobs last month, marking improvement over 2025 when monthly job creation averaged 9,700.

Economic growth has been supported by resilient consumer spending and increased investment in artificial intelligence, despite challenges from high interest rates and trade policy uncertainties noted in the previous year.