Jobless Claims Hold Near 200,000 as Layoffs Stay Low (Nov. 13, 2026)

Layoffs remain rare even as hiring stays cautious. The U.S. Department of Labor's weekly report, released Thursday, November 12, 2026, shows employers are holding on to the workers they have. Here is where things stand as of Friday, November 13, 2026.

The key numbers

Initial jobless claims: 200,000 for the week ending November 7 (seasonally adjusted), up 9,000 from a revised 191,000 the week before. Economists had expected about 194,000 to 195,000.
Four-week average: 195,250, unchanged from the prior week and well below the 227,000 average a year ago.
Continuing claims: 1,697,000 for the week ending October 31, down 20,000. The insured unemployment rate was 1.1%, versus 1.3% a year earlier.
Median length of unemployment: 11.9 weeks in October, up from 11.5 in September and the longest since November 2021 (as reported by Reuters).

What it means for employers

Claims have stayed at or below 200,000 since mid-September, a level that points to few layoffs. But low layoffs do not mean easy hiring. Workers who do lose a job are taking a bit longer to find the next one, and many employers are still being careful about adding permanent payroll. For businesses that need reliable people, that means the pool of ready, qualified candidates is real but takes effort to reach.

What to do this month

Fill year-end and January openings now, before holiday schedules slow down interviews.
Use temp-to-hire to add capacity without a permanent commitment.
Move quickly on good candidates. Strong workers are not on the market long.

What's next

The next weekly claims report is due Thursday, November 19, and the next national jobs report is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 4. Sources: U.S. Department of Labor weekly claims (opens in a new tab); FRED weekly claims tables (opens in a new tab); Reuters report on the claims data (opens in a new tab).

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