Layoffs Remain Low as Weekly Jobless Claims Below Expectations

Recurring jobless claims also declined, signaling that employment conditions could be improving.

A hiring ad is displayed at a store in Columbia, Md., on Sept. 18, 2025. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits was little changed, highlighting the low level of layoffs in the U.S. labor market.

For the week ending Jan. 17, initial jobless claims ticked up by 1,000 to 200,000, according to new Department of Labor data published on Jan. 22. The previous week’s reading was revised slightly higher to 199,000.