ICSAInitial Jobless Claims (ICSA) — Current Value & Historical Data
Initial Jobless Claims (ICSA) Chart & Data Table
Showing 521 of 3,106 observations. Pick "All" to see the full history (1967-01-07–2026-07-11).
Gray bands: NBER recessions
What is Initial Jobless Claims (ICSA)?
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 Jobless Claims (ICSA) Value
As of July 11, 2026, the current initial claims is 208000.00 Number. This is the most recent observation available for this series, updated weekly, ending saturday.
Initial Jobless Claims Historical Trend
Initial Claims fell 3.70% 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
Notes
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....
Frequently Asked Questions About Initial Jobless Claims (ICSA)
What is the current initial claims?
As of July 11, 2026, initial claims stands at 208000.00 Number.
Where does initial claims data come from?
Initial Claims data is sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) system and related U.S. government agencies. Data quality and historical coverage vary by series.
How often is initial claims updated?
This series is updated according to its publication schedule. Check FRED or the source agency for the most current release calendar.
What is the historical high and low for initial claims?
In the available data, the highest value was 6137000.00 Number in April 2020, and the lowest was 162000.00 Number in November 1968.
See Initial Jobless Claims in context
ICSA is tracked on the Labor Market dashboard, alongside related indicators and historical context.
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How Initial Jobless Claims connects to the federal budget across GOVSPENDING.ORG:
Federal Debt
Total public debt, debt held by the public, and intragovernmental holdings.
Receipts vs Outlays
Federal revenue, spending, and the resulting surplus or deficit over time.
Congressional Activity
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Interest Expense vs Revenue
How rising debt service costs crowd out federal spending as a share of receipts over time.
Revenue Composition
Federal receipts broken down by source — individual income, corporate, social insurance, excise taxes, and customs duties as shares of total revenue.
Agency Spending (FY 2019 vs FY 2024)
Net outlays by federal agency for FY 2019 and FY 2024, from the Treasury Monthly Treasury Statement. Both nominal and inflation-adjusted comparisons.
Related Indicators
Compare Initial Jobless Claims with related indicators
See how Initial Jobless Claims stacks up against related series in a side-by-side chart and explainer: