US Unemployment Claims Tick Up, Remain Below 2026 High

Jobless claims ’signal a remarkably stable domestic labor market,' Joseph Brusuelas, RSM’s chief economist, said.

A "Now Hiring" sign outside Taylor Party and Equipment Rentals in Somerville, Mass., on Sept. 1, 2022. Brian Snyder/Reuters

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits edged up last week, but the total remained below this year’s high amid a steady job market.

For the week ending April 18, initial jobless claims rose by 6,000 to 214,000, according to Department of Labor data released on April 23. This is up from the previous week’s upwardly revised 208,000 and slightly more than the 210,000 new applications analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet were expecting.