US Jobless Claims Fall to 206,000 Last Week

Layoffs Remain at Historically Low Levels Despite Some High-Profile Cuts

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell by 23,000 to 206,000 in the week ending February 14, significantly fewer than the 225,000 new applications analysts had forecast. The Labor Department reported that U.S. layoffs remain at historically low levels, even as some high-profile companies have announced job cuts recently.

Why it matters

The level of jobless claims is seen as a proxy for layoffs and a real-time indicator of the health of the job market. While weekly layoffs have remained in a historically low range, the recent spate of high-profile job cuts has left Americans increasingly pessimistic about the economy, despite solid growth.

The details

The Labor Department's report showed that the four-week moving average of jobless claims decreased by 1,000 to 219,000. The total number of Americans filing for jobless benefits for the previous week ending Feb. 7 increased to 1.87 million, up 17,000 from the previous week. While hiring has clearly slowed, hobbled by uncertainty stoked by trade tensions and the lingering effects of high interest rates, the stronger-than-expected January job gains have left economists conflicted about whether this is a one-off or the first sign of a recovering labor market.

  • The number of Americans filing for jobless aid for the week ending Feb. 14 fell by 23,000 to 206,000 from the previous week.
  • Earlier this month, the Labor Department reported that U.S. employers added a surprisingly strong 130,000 jobs in January and the unemployment rate fell to 4.3% from 4.4%.

The players

U.S. Department of Labor

The federal agency responsible for collecting and reporting data on employment, unemployment, and other labor market indicators.

UPS

A major logistics and delivery company that has announced job cuts recently.

Amazon

An e-commerce giant that has also announced job cuts in recent weeks.

Dow

A chemical company that has announced layoffs.

The Washington Post

A major newspaper that has announced job cuts.

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The takeaway

The latest jobless claims data suggests the labor market remains resilient, with layoffs at historically low levels, despite some high-profile job cuts. However, the mixed signals from the job market have left economists uncertain about the broader economic outlook, with concerns about the lingering effects of past interest rate hikes and trade tensions.