The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell to 189,000 last week, the lowest level in 57 years, as layoffs remained low and the US labour market showed continued resilience, the Labor Department said on Thursday.
US jobless claims dropped by 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 189,000 for the week ended October 31, beating economists’ expectations. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 196,000 claims for the latest week.
The figure matched the 189,000 level touched in mid-July, which was the lowest reading since 1969. Claims have stayed mostly below 200,000 since mid-September, a sign that employers are holding on to workers despite uncertainty in the wider economy.
What the numbers show
The weekly claims report is one of the most closely watched measures of the US labour market because it offers a near-real-time view of layoffs. A low number of new claims generally means few workers are losing their jobs.
The latest report also showed that the number of people still receiving unemployment benefits after an initial week of aid — a proxy for hiring — rose by 23,000 to a seasonally adjusted 1.718 million during the week ended October 24. That level remains low by historical standards.
Separate government data reported this week showed there were 1.06 open jobs for every unemployed person in September, up from 1.02 in August, which some economists read as a sign that the labour market is starting to tighten.
Why it matters for the Federal Reserve
The claims figures arrive at a sensitive moment for the Federal Reserve, which is weighing the path of interest rates. A labour market with very low layoffs gives the central bank room to keep its focus on inflation, while Friday’s monthly employment report will give a fuller picture of hiring.
Gold prices held above $4,100 after the claims data, with traders treating the stronger-than-expected labour figures as support for the dollar and a signal that the Fed has room to move on rates at its December meeting.
What comes next
The claims report has no bearing on the government’s closely watched employment report for October, due on Friday, because the claims week falls outside the survey period for that report. The unemployment rate is forecast to remain unchanged at 4.2%.
Economists will watch Friday’s payrolls number closely. It will show whether hiring is keeping pace with a labour market in which layoffs are rare but job openings, while still plentiful, have cooled from their peaks.
For workers, the message of the latest data is straightforward: very few Americans are losing their jobs. For policymakers, the question is whether that tightness will keep wage growth — and inflation — higher for longer.
How claims have behaved this year
Claims have stayed below 200,000 for most of the period since mid-September, a run of low readings that contrasts with the weaker hiring seen in some monthly payrolls reports this year. The gap between the two measures reflects a labour market in which employers are reluctant to cut staff but also cautious about adding new roles.
The 189,000 reading equals the lowest since 1969, a period when the US workforce was far smaller — which makes the current level striking in a labour market of more than 160 million workers.
FAQ
What are US jobless claims?
Initial jobless claims count the number of Americans filing for state unemployment benefits for the first time in a given week. They are a weekly, near-real-time measure of layoffs.
How many jobless claims were filed last week?
189,000 for the week ended October 31, down 6,000 from the previous week, according to the Labor Department.
Why is 189,000 significant?
It is the lowest reading since 1969 — a 57-year low — and it matched the level reached in mid-July. Economists had expected 196,000.
What happens next?
The government’s October employment report is due on Friday. The unemployment rate is forecast to stay at 4.2%.
Sources
- Reuters: US weekly jobless claims at 57-year lows amid low layoffs — https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/us-weekly-jobless-claims-57-year-lows-amid-low-layoffs-2026-11-05/
- Kitco News: Gold prices holding above $4,100 as weekly jobless claims fall to 189k — https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-11-05/gold-prices-holding-above-4100-weekly-jobless-claims-rise-189k
- Northland News Radio (Reuters): US weekly jobless claims at 57-year lows amid low layoffs — https://northlandnewsradio.com/2026/11/05/us-weekly-jobless-claims-at-57-year-lows-amid-low-layoffs/
