Jobs

US Jobless Claims Rise, Adding to Signs of Slowing Labor Market

US Jobless Claims Rise to 235,000, Continuing Claims Climb

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Mark Niquette

August 21, 2025 at 12:34 PM UTC

Updated on

August 21, 2025 at 1:16 PM UTC

Applications for US unemployment benefits rose last week to the highest level since June and continuing claims climbed, adding to evidence the US labor market is slowing.

Initial claims increased by 11,000 to 235,000 in the week ended Aug. 16. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for 225,000 applications.