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Labor Market · November 5, 2026 · 2 min read

Initial jobless claims fall to 189,000; continuing claims rise in the earlier week

By Econ Data Tools Editorial Team

Published November 5, 2026 • Updated November 5, 2026

The November 5 release revises the prior initial-claims level upward. New and continuing claims cover different weeks and are not a monthly payroll count.

The U.S. Department of Labor reported on November 5 that seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims fell to 189,000 in the week ending October 31, down 6,000 from the previous week. These are advance weekly figures, not a count of all unemployed people or a monthly payroll estimate. The prior week was revised up by 1,000, from 194,000 to 195,000. The reported decline of 6,000 is measured against that revised level. Comparing the new figure only with the earlier unrevised number would give a different weekly change. The four-week moving average of initial claims fell by 2,250 to 194,750. The previous average was revised up by 250 to 197,000. The average smooths weekly fluctuations, but it remains subject to revisions in the underlying observations. Continuing insured unemployment moved in the other direction. Its seasonally adjusted advance count rose by 23,000 to 1,718,000 in the week ending October 24. This series covers an earlier week than the initial-claims headline. The insured unemployment rate was unchanged at 1.1%. The unadjusted initial-claims count for October 31 was 176,698, down 2,951 from the previous week. Seasonal factors had expected an increase of 2,539. Adjusted and unadjusted counts answer different questions and should not be mixed when describing the headline weekly move. The figures show fewer new benefit applications in the latest week alongside a rise in continuing claims in the earlier reporting week. They do not establish a Federal Reserve decision, explain every employer hiring choice or prove that layoffs are absent across the economy. The release is a weekly benefits indicator, with distinct dates and coverage limits.

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