The number of unemployment benefit claims in the US fell to 206,000 last week, a slight decrease from the 207,000 in the previous period, according to data released by the Department of Labor. The claims are an indicator of layoffs and are used by economists as a reference for the direction of the labor market.
In recent months, the claims have remained mostly within a historically low range, between 200,000 and 230,000. The American labor market continued robust, despite the rise in fuel prices that have affected businesses and consumers since the beginning of the conflict with Iran, on February 28.
This year, employers, companies, government agencies, and non-profit organizations added an average of 80,000 jobs per month, with special emphasis on the 162,000 jobs created in August. These numbers represent a significant improvement compared to 2025, when monthly job creation averaged below 10,000.
