ICSAInitial Claims — Current Value & Historical Data
Showing 521 of 3,099 observations. Pick "All" to see the full history (1967-01-07–2026-05-23).
Gray bands: NBER recessions
What is Initial Claims?
Initial jobless claims count the number of Americans filing for unemployment insurance for the first time in a given week, published every Thursday by the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. Because it is reported weekly — far more frequently than any other major labor-market indicator — initial claims provide the earliest signal of changing layoff conditions. The series averaged around 350,000 per week in the late-cycle 2019 economy, spiked to a record 6.1 million in a single week in early April 2020 during the COVID-19 shutdown, and settled into the 200,000–240,000 range through 2023–24, consistent with a tight labor market. Sustained readings above 300,000 historically coincide with rising unemployment; sustained readings below 250,000 indicate a hiring market where employers are reluctant to let workers go.
Current Initial Claims Value
As of May 23, 2026, the current initial claims is 215000.00 Number. This is the most recent observation available for this series, updated weekly, ending saturday.
Historical Trend
Initial Claims rose 2.38% year-over-year. In the series' tracked history, the highest recorded value was 6137000.00 (April 2020), and the lowest was 162000.00 (November 1968).
Methodology & Source
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Frequency: Weekly, Ending Saturday
Units: Number
An initial claim is a claim filed by an unemployed individual after a separation from an employer. The claim requests a determination of basic eligibility for the Unemployment Insurance program....