US Jobless Claims Slow in Final Week of 2025 Amid Weak Labour Market

US Unemployment Benefits Applications Reach Lowest Point in a Month

According to recent data from the Labor Department, the number of US residents applying for unemployment benefits has decreased to its lowest point in a month over the past week. The latest statistics show that jobless claims for the week ending December 27 fell by 16,000 to 199,000.

This marks an improvement from the previous week, when the Labor Department recorded 215,000 jobless claims. The four-week average of jobless claims also rose by 1,750 to 218,750.

The US unemployment rate reached a peak of 4.6 percent in November, the highest percentage since 2021. This increase has been largely attributed to federal employee reductions under former President Donald Trump’s administration.

Recent data from the Labor Department shows that hiring momentum has lost steam, with job creation averaging 35,000 per month since March, compared to 71,000 during the same period last year. The Federal Reserve recently reduced its benchmark lending rate by a quarter-point due to concerns about the strength of the job market.

The US economy gained back 64,000 jobs in November, but companies such as UPS, General Motors, Amazon, and Verizon have announced recent job cuts.

Source: Al Jazeera