US Jobless Claims Fall to 227K, Beating Expectations

US Jobless Claims Fall to 227K, Continuing Claims Edge Higher

The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits fell slightly to 227,000 for the week ending May 17, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor. This figure was lower than economists’ expectations and a drop from the previous week’s unrevised 229,000, signaling continued strength in the U.S. labor market.

The four-week moving average, which helps smooth out volatility in the weekly numbers, rose modestly by 1,000 to 231,500, indicating a generally stable employment environment.

Meanwhile, the number of continuing jobless claims—which represent people receiving benefits for longer than one week—rose by 36,000 to 1.903 million for the week ending May 10. This suggests that while fewer people are losing their jobs, those who are unemployed may be taking longer to find new work.

The insured unemployment rate held steady at 1.2%, according to the report.

The mixed data underscores a labor market that is cooling gradually but remains resilient, even as broader economic uncertainties—such as fiscal policy debates and inflation concerns—continue to weigh on sentiment.