Jobless Claims

Jobless claims are statistics that track the number of individuals who file claims for unemployment insurance. They generally come in two forms:

• Initial claims: the number of new claimants applying for benefits after job loss.
• Continuing claims: the number of people who keep receiving unemployment benefits past the initial period.

These figures are closely watched because rising claims can hint at weakening employment or layoffs, while falling claims may suggest a strengthening job market. Economists often smooth weekly volatility by looking at the four-week moving average of claims.