US Jobless Claims Dip to 206,000 as August Hiring Reaches 162,000
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Sep 10
US Jobless Claims Dip to 206,000 as August Hiring Reaches 162,000
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Sep 10
Summary
206,000 Americans filed new unemployment claims last week, down from a revised 207,000 and keeping layoffs near historically low levels.
The four-week average also slipped to 206,000, extending a yearlong pattern in which claims have mostly stayed between 200,000 and 230,000.
Businesses have largely held onto workers despite higher gasoline prices since fighting with Iran began Feb. 28, wary of repeating the labor shortages that followed pandemic lockdowns.
80,000 jobs a month have been added on average this year, with a stronger-than-expected 162,000 gain in August—better than 2025's sub-10,000 pace but still below 2023-24 averages.