The number of people who lost their jobs and filed for unemployment benefits last week. It comes out every week, so it's the fastest way to check changes in jobs.
Japan time (JST, winter)22:30
Japan time (JST, summer)21:30
Importance★★★
FrequencyWeekly
Release dateEvery Thursday
Released byUS Department of Labor (DOL)
1A 30-second chat
JUDITHIf it comes out every week, does the market move a lot every week?
JADEUsually it's small. But when people are worried about the economy, a sudden jump alone can cause a big move
JUDITHHow should I read it?
JADEDon't judge from a single week. Use the 4-week average to see the trend. In a jobs report week, Thursday's number is also a clue for Friday's forecast
2Just check this
1
Initial claims
How many people newly filed last week. A rise is a sign jobs are getting worse
2
Continuing claims
The number of people still receiving unemployment benefits. Shows how easy it is to find a new job
3
4-week average
A number that smooths out week-to-week swings. Use this one to see the trend
3How does the market move?
Price moves on the size of the gap vs. forecast, more than on whether the result is good or bad
▲ Stronger than expectedFewer claims(strong jobs)→ The dollar tends to strengthen
▼ Weaker than expectedMore claims(weak jobs)→ The dollar tends to weaken
These are common patterns. Depending on the news at the time, price can move the other way.
The direction is different every time. Right after the release, price can swing either way.
4Prop firm watch-outs
It comes out every Thursday at 22:30 (21:30 in summer). Even a small indicator can cause bigger moves in weeks when it lands at the same time as GDP or other releases, so make it a habit to check all of that day's releases every Thursday.
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