US weekly jobless claims rise more than expected

Snowstorms across the country likely contributed to the increase, but labor market conditions remain stable

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits increased more than expected last week, likely due to snowstorms across much of the country. However, economists say the labor market remains in a 'low hire, low fire' mode, with uncertainty from trade tariffs and the growing use of artificial intelligence leaving businesses unsure of their staffing needs.

Why it matters

The weekly jobless claims data provides an important snapshot of the health of the US labor market. While the increase was larger than expected, economists remain cautiously optimistic that job growth will pick up this year as tax cuts support consumer spending.

The details

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits jumped 22,000 to a seasonally adjusted 231,000 for the week ended January 31, the Labor Department said. Economists had forecast 212,000 claims. The number of people receiving unemployment benefits after an initial week of aid, a proxy for hiring, increased 25,000 to a seasonally adjusted 1.844 million during the week ended January 24.

  • The claims data is for the week ended January 31, 2026.
  • The report on January's employment numbers, originally scheduled for Friday, was delayed due to the recent three-day shutdown of the federal government.

The players

Labor Department

The federal agency that collects and reports data on the US labor market, including weekly jobless claims.

Federal Reserve

The central banking system of the United States, which sets monetary policy including interest rates.

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What’s next

The January employment report, originally scheduled for Friday, will now be released next Wednesday.

The takeaway

While the increase in weekly jobless claims was larger than expected, economists remain cautiously optimistic about the overall health of the US labor market, noting that the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates unchanged in the near term due to labor market stability.