Jobless Claims Drop to Three‑Year Low, Signaling Labor Market Resilience

New filings for unemployment benefits in the U.S. plunged to a level not seen in roughly three years, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. For the week ending November 29, 2025, “initial jobless claims” fell by 27,000 to a seasonally adjusted 191,000 — well below the roughly 220,000 economists had expected. This drop marks the lowest weekly count since September 2022 and offers a rare moment of reassurance amid widespread concern over layoffs from some large companies. At the same time, “continuing jobless claims” — those already receiving unemployment benefits — ticked modestly downward to about 1.94 million, which remains near elevated post‑pandemic levels. The data complicate expectations for the Federal Reserve: on one hand, low layoffs strengthen the case for a stable labor market; on the other, sluggish hiring and sticky unemployment levels suggest economic momentum might remain soft. #USLaborMarket #JoblessClaims #UnemploymentRate #FedWatch #SlimScan #GrowthStocks #CANSLIM