Updated: 11-Dec-25 09:22 ET

Initial Claims for the Week Ended Dec 06

Updated: 11-Dec-25 09:22 ET

Highlights

• Initial jobless claims for the week ending December 6 increased by 44,000 to 236,000. Poor seasonal adjustment factors have attracted blame for the big week-over-week jump in initial claims from the Thanksgiving week.
• Continuing jobless claims for the week ending November 29 decreased by 99,000 to 1.838 million, which is the lowest since April 2025.

Key Factors

• The four-week moving average for initial claims increased by 2,000 to 216,750.
• The four-week moving average for continuing claims decreased by 27,000 to 1,918,000.
• The total number of continued weeks claimed for benefits in all programs for the week ending November 22 was 1,731,322, a decrease of 92,675 from the previous week. Claims filed in the comparable week a year ago totaled 1,688,243.

Big Picture

• The key takeaway from the report is that, on balance, it doesn't point to a material weakening in the labor market.

Category	Dec 6	Nov 29	Nov 22	Nov 15	Nov 8
Initial Claims	236K	192K	217K	222K	228K
4-Wk Moving Avg	217K	215K	224K	225K	227K
Continued Benefits		1838K	1937K	1944K	1953K
4-Wk Moving Avg		1918K	1945K	1952K	1955K