Jobless Claims Dip to 226,000, Indicating Labour Market Cooling
MarketsFN Data Team
In the week ending June 13, 2026, initial jobless claims fell by 4,000 to 226,000, reflecting a 1.7% decrease from the previous week.
This week's claims are above the 3-month average of 211,714 but below the 1-year average of 220,283 and the 5-year average of 220,644. The 52-week range shows claims peaked at 259,000 and dipped to a low of 190,000, indicating some volatility in the labour market.
The 4-week moving average stands at 223,250, suggesting a slight upward trend in initial claims over the past month. This smoothed figure points to potential cooling in the labour market as employers may be reducing hiring amid economic uncertainties.
Continued claims rose by 24,000 to 1,810,000, a 1.3% increase week-on-week. This uptick suggests that more workers are remaining on unemployment benefits for longer periods, which could indicate challenges in finding new employment opportunities.
Key Statistics at a Glance
| Latest (week ending) | June 13, 2026 |
| Initial claims | 226,000 |
| WoW change | ▼ 4,000 (-1.7%) |
| 4-week moving avg | 223,250 |
| 3-month avg | 211,714 (+6.7% vs current) |
| 1-year avg | 220,283 (+2.6% vs current) |
| 5-year avg | 220,644 (+2.4% vs current) |
| 52-week high | 259,000 |
| 52-week low | 190,000 |
| Continued claims | 1,810,000 |
| Continued claims WoW | +24,000 (+1.3%) |
| Signal | Cooling |
