US jobless claims fall to 206,000 last week

Layoffs remain at historically low levels as labor market stays strong

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell by 23,000 to 206,000 for the week ending February 14, according to the Labor Department. This is significantly fewer than the 225,000 new applications that analysts had forecast, indicating that layoffs remain at historically low levels and the job market continues to be strong.

Why it matters

The number of people filing for jobless claims is viewed as a real-time indicator of the health of the job market. The decline in claims suggests the labor market remains robust, with employers holding onto workers despite economic uncertainty.

The details

The four-week moving average of jobless claims, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, 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.

  • For the week ending February 14, 2026
  • For the week ending February 7, 2026

The players

U.S. Department of Labor

The federal agency that tracks and reports on unemployment claims and other labor market data.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The decline in jobless claims to 206,000 last week indicates the U.S. labor market remains strong, with employers holding onto workers despite broader economic uncertainty. This is a positive sign for the economy as a whole.