US jobless claims rose to 206,000 in the week ending 29 August, the US Labor Department reported on Thursday, 3 September, as fresh data continued to show relatively few layoffs despite uneven hiring across the economy. Initial claims increased by 2,000 from the previous week's revised level of 204,000.
For context, weekly unemployment claims are closely watched as a timely indicator of layoffs. The latest total remained below the 236,000 claims recorded in the comparable week of 2025, according to the Labor Department's seasonally adjusted figures.
