Jobless Claims
Definition
Applications for unemployment benefits recorded under a particular program. They measure benefit activity rather than all unemployed people.
Initial claims count new applications for benefits, while continuing claims track people still claiming benefits after their initial filing. The weekly figures can give an early signal that layoffs are changing. Eligibility and filing behaviour affect how many people appear in the numbers.
Example
In one week, 10,000 people file new applications for unemployment benefits. Those applications are initial jobless claims.
United States
What’s the difference between initial and continuing claims?
Initial claims count new filings for unemployment benefits. Continuing claims track people claiming benefits for ongoing weeks. Initial claims can rise when layoffs increase while continuing claims move differently as people find work or exhaust benefits.
U.S. Department of Labor unemployment claims