The number of Americans applying for jobless aid slips to 203,000 as layoffs remain low
- U.S. jobless claims fell to 203,000 last week from a revised 207,000 the previous week, according to the Labor Department.
- The four-week average of claims rose slightly to 205,500, and claims have remained in a historically low range of 200,000 to 230,000 weekly for the past year.
- The U.S. unemployment rate stands at 4.1%, partly due to Trump's immigration crackdown and baby boomer retirements reducing labor force competition.
- Employers have added an average of 61,000 jobs per month so far this year, up from 9,700 monthly in 2024, but well below 2023-2024 averages of 166,000 jobs monthly.
- The job market is characterized as 'no hire, no fire' as companies, cautious after pandemic-era worker shortages, retain staff but avoid significant new hiring.
U.S. jobless claims declined to 203,000 last week from 207,000 the previous week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The four-week average ticked up slightly to 205,500. Claims have remained at historically low levels, ranging between 200,000 and 230,000 weekly over the past year. The unemployment rate stands at 4.1%.
The low layoff rate reflects a resilient job market despite economic headwinds. However, the low unemployment rate is partly attributable to demographic shifts—Trump's immigration crackdown and ongoing baby boomer retirements have reduced the number of people competing for jobs, with over 1.3 million people dropping out of the labor force in the past year.
The job market is characterized as 'no hire, no fire,' with companies reluctant to lay off workers following pandemic-era labor shortages but also hesitant to hire aggressively. Year-to-date hiring averages 61,000 jobs monthly, up from 9,700 in 2024 but significantly below the 166,000 monthly average in 2023-2024. This dynamic makes it difficult for job seekers entering the market or those transitioning between positions. The August jobs report, expected next week, is forecast to show 65,000 additional jobs added.
美国失业救济申请人数降至20.3万 裁员保持低位
美国劳工部周四报告称，上周失业救济申请人数从前周的20.7万降至20.3万，四周平均申请人数小幅上升至20.55万。过去一年，申请人数一直保持在每周20万至23万的历史低位。失业率为4.1%。
低裁员率反映出尽管面临经济逆风，就业市场仍保持韧性。然而，低失业率部分源于人口结构变化——特朗普的移silon限制政策和婴儿潮一代持续退休减少了求职竞争，过去一年有超过130万人退出劳动力队伍。
就业市场呈现'不招聘、不裁员'特征。企业在经历疫情后劳动力短缺后不愿裁员，但也对积极招聘持谨慎态度。年初至今月均招聘6.1万个工作岗位，高于2024年的月均9700个，但远低于2023-2024年的月均16.6万个。这种动态使求职者和寻求转职的人面临困难。预计下周发布的8月就业报告将显示新增6.5万个工作岗位。