US unemployment claims dipped to 245,000 last week, hovering at historically low levels

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By PAUL WISEMAN
Updated 8:06 AM CDT, June 18, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits dipped to 245,000 last week, hovering at historically low levels, the Labor Department said Wednesday.

U.S. jobless claims ticked down from 250,000 the week before. Economists had expected last week’s claims to match that at 250,000.

The four-week average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, rose to 245,500, the highest since August 2023.

The number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits the week of June 7 slid to 1.95 million.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/jobs-unemployment-benefits-claims-economy-trump-tariffs-07b68dcba6b42864913e49e6ebdf33b5

[FredGarvin]

1. Great News

The job market is still strong.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. Jobs stable, but turnover is down and fed layoffs are delayed due to "deferred resignations" hitting in Sept.

Job openings are down, but job exits are down. People aren't leaving jobs to look for better ones.

Housing starts and permits are down some. Single family homes are a bit glutted, but apartments are harder to find.

The economy has been surprisingly resilient, even to economists, but seems to be fraying a bit at the edges.

[sdfernando]

3. I'm not so sure the picture is as rosy as they are making it look

Not trusting anything coming out now...Also think when it crashes it will be hard and fast.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. The all-purpose "they" is deployed again. Such vagueness deserves a vague response. . . . nt

[sdfernando]

5. They as in orange caligula's administration.

guess I should have been clearer, but at work so not focusing 100% on this.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. Cynicism can promote prudent watchfulness but can also lead astray

The Bureau of Labor statistics are calculated by competent unbiased professionals, vouched for by a DU member who worked with them for 30 years.

At some point down the road, there may be interference, but not so far. You can't point to any evidence of interference in their work. Their work is consistent with the work of analysts at independent companies such as ADP and large accounting firms (hence the need for clarity on "they" ).

[Bernardo de La Paz]

9. I like the reference to the Roman emperor. I would suggest Cantaloupe Caligula. . . nt

Companion appellation to "Mango Mussolini".

[everyonematters]

7. This country does not have an employment problem. It has a wage problem.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. YES. Major cause of maga angst & of voters drifting away from Democrats who do not address it much

Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Bernie Sanders do address it, and maybe AOC and others. But too few, too little, and why the hell not?

Wealth and income disparity is a major cause of societal problems in the US and is historically unsustainable. Democrats have a golden opportunity to make inroads by addressing it and dealing with it, so that it gets ameliorated peacefully.

[everyonematters]

10. Agree.

[wolfie001]

12. This is the repuke's ultimate goal

A return to "simpler times"

[JI7]

11. A lot of places have difficulty finding or keeping employees

and gotten worse with the deportations.

[BootinUp]

13. Thanks Biden! Nt