The number of Americans filing new unemployment claims fell by 27,000 to a seasonally adjusted 191,000 for the week ended November 29, reaching the lowest level since September 2022.
The drop in claims – much lower than the 220,000 expected by economists – reassured some that labor market conditions may not be deteriorating as fast as private surveys had suggested.
The big picture: Some of the decline may be due to seasonal adjustment challenges around the Thanksgiving holiday, which often causes volatility in weekly data.
- Unadjusted jobless claims dropped by 49,419 to 197,221 last week, with significant declines in California (down 19,551), Texas (down 8,349), New York, Washington state, and Florida.
- Recent private reports showed weaker labor market signs: Revelio Labs estimated the economy lost 9,000 jobs in November, and ADP reported the largest private payroll drop in more than 2.5 years.
Go deeper: Planned job cuts by U.S. employers fell 53% to 71,321 in November, but overall 2025 layoffs have reached 1.171 million, up 54% from a year ago, especially in technology as firms integrate AI.
- Continuing claims – the number of people receiving unemployment benefits – edged down by 4,000 to 1.939 million, indicating many are still struggling to find new jobs.
- The unemployment rate rose to 4.4% in September from 4.3% in August; the government’s October data is delayed due to a record 43-day government shutdown, with the November jobs report now due December 16.
