Slightly more Americans apply for unemployment benefits last week, but layoffs remain relatively low
Some analysts say they expect layoffs ordered by the Department of Government Efficiency to show up in the report in the coming weeks.
Unemployment
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2022 Year in Review: A year of ups, downs and uncertainty
The stock market dropped in 2022. So did the unemployment rate. Except in Indiana, where in both cases, the numbers crept up.
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IBJ Podcast: Indiana’s workforce leader talks unemployment, labor markets and minimum wage
Host Mason King talks with Fred Payne, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, about what the state is doing to help more Hoosiers find jobs and more companies find workers.
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The pandemic: One crisis, countless journeys
The pandemic hit Indiana one year ago, packing an emotional and financial wallop. Read the stories of 11 Hoosiers to see how they have navigated the choppy waters in business, in life and in loss.
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Indiana ‘missed big’ by not adopting work share, report says
Researchers who have studied work-share programs—which have been implemented in 28 states—say thousands of Indiana workers have been unnecessarily laid off.
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Articles
U.S. employers add 143,000 jobs, jobless rate falls to 4%
Most Americans still enjoy unusual job security. But for those looking for work, the job hunt has been getting harder compared with the red-hot hiring days of 2021-2023.
Indiana lawmakers contemplate slashing unemployment insurance timespan
Indiana workers who become unemployed through no fault of their own can claim unemployment insurance for up to 26 weeks under state law. Senate Bill 123 would slash that to 14 weeks.
U.S. payrolls growth picks up, unemployment rate drops
The U.S. economy in December added the most jobs since March, capping a surprisingly strong year and supporting the case for a pause in Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts.
Unemployment claims fall to 211,000, lowest level since March
Economists called the drops “encouraging,” but cautioned that seasonal adjustments around the holidays can throw off the numbers.
Applications for unemployment benefits hold steady, but continuing claims rise to 3-year high
The labor market has hinted at some softening recently but remains broadly healthy and has held up better than many economists predicted considering that interest rates have been elevated for years.
U.S. jobless claims climb to highest level in a year
Analysts say the increase is more likely a result of Hurricane Helene—and the Boeing machinist strike—than a broader softening in the labor market.
U.S. adds robust 254,000 jobs as unemployment dips to 4.1%
Given Friday’s stronger-than-expected hiring report, economists say the Fed will almost certainly cut its benchmark rate in November by a modest quarter-point, after its larger-than-usual half-point reduction in September.
Weekly applications for jobless benefits fall to the lowest level in 4 months
Weekly filings for unemployment benefits, considered largely representative of layoffs, had risen moderately since May before this week’s decline.
U.S. added just 114,000 jobs in July; unemployment rate rises to 4.3%
Friday’s report from the Labor Department showed that employers added 35% fewer jobs than forecasters had expected and the unemployment rate hit its highest level since October 2021.
Number of Americans filing for jobless claims hits highest level in a year
The four-week average for continuing claims rose to 1,857,000, the most since December 2021.
U.S. employers added 206,000 jobs in June in sign of continued economic strength
The unemployment rate ticked up from 4% to 4.1%, a still-low number but the highest rate since November 2021.
Number of Americans filing for jobless benefits jumps to highest level in 10 months
Though this week’s number seems relatively high, it’s still within a range that reflects a healthy labor market.
Employers added 175,000 jobs in April as labor market growth slowed
After a miniboom that powered the first quarter of 2024, the labor market cooled in April, reflecting job growth that looked more like the latter half of 2023. April’s job gains were the smallest reported since October.
Applications for jobless benefits fall to lowest level since September 2022
The job market has remained surprisingly resilient, with the unemployment rate staying below 4% for 23 straight months, the longest such streak since the 1960s.
U.S. initial jobless claims rise to 218,000, more than estimated
The four-week moving average, which offers a clearer picture of the trend, was little changed at 212,000 last week, the lowest since late October.
U.S. labor market defies slowdown forecasts in broad strengthening
The acceleration in payrolls is at odds with recent reports that have depicted a softer hiring pace, an outcome favored by the Fed as it will help rein in demand and tame price pressures.
U.S. unemployment claims drop in another sign of labor market resiliency
The claims are viewed as a proxy for layoffs and remain extraordinarily low by historical standards, signalling that most Americans enjoy unusual job security.
Applications for jobless benefits fall to lowest level in more than 8 months
Businesses continue to retain workers despite elevated interest rates meant to cool the economy and labor market.
U.S. job openings rose in August, defying expectations
The U.S. labor market remains strong despite higher interest rates—perhaps too strong for the inflation fighters at the Federal Reserve.