The number of people claiming unemployment benefits fell by 1,000 to 194,000 in the week ending October 24, 2026, coming in below market expectations of 199,000 and marking the lowest initial claim count since the 60-year low of 189,000 in mid-July. Continuing claims, which scales the total size of ongoing unemployment in the US, fell by 21,000 to 1,701,000, reaching their lowest level in more than three years. The data continues to reflect a resilient US labor market, in line with the Federal Reserve that cites full employment. Meanwhile, initial claims filed by federal employees, which remain in the spotlight due to the administration's push to shrink the public sector, fell by 113 to 442, remaining well below historical levels.
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