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Claims for unemployment benefits drop to 196,000, lowest since mid-July as layoffs remain low

The four-week average fell to 203,250, and economists said the low claims level suggests layoffs remain rare despite modest hiring.

  • The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims fell to 196,000, the fewest since mid-July and down from 206,000 the prior week, signaling that layoffs remain rare.
  • Despite higher gasoline prices squeezing businesses and consumers since fighting with Iran began Feb. 28, The American job market has remained sturdy and resilient.
  • Economists surveyed by FactSet expected 207,500 claims, while the four-week average dropped to 203,250, reinforcing that weekly claims have stayed within a historically low 200,000 to 230,000 range.
  • Employers added an average 80,000 jobs monthly this year, including 162,000 in August, though growth remains below the 166,000 average in 2023 and 2024 when President Donald Trump's policies discouraged hiring.
  • Businesses remain reluctant to release staff, recalling the labor shortages that followed COVID-19 lockdowns, explaining why hiring continues modestly despite economic pressures.
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Bay News 9 broke the news in Saint Petersburg, United States on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
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