Continuing Jobless Claims
Continuing jobless claims refer to the number of people who have filed for unemployment benefits and are still receiving them. This figure is released by the U.S. Department of Labor on a weekly basis and is used to gauge the health of the labor market. It is an important indicator of the overall economic health of the country, as it reflects the number of people who are out of work and unable to find new employment.
History of Continuing Jobless Claims
Continuing jobless claims have been tracked since the 1950s, when the U.S. Department of Labor began collecting data on the number of people receiving unemployment benefits. The data is used to measure the number of people who are unemployed and unable to find new employment. It is also used to gauge the health of the labor market, as it reflects the number of people who are out of work and unable to find new employment.
The number of continuing jobless claims has fluctuated over the years, with the highest levels occurring during recessions. During the Great Recession of 2008-2009, the number of continuing jobless claims reached a peak of 6.6 million in April 2009. Since then, the number of continuing jobless claims has steadily declined, reaching a low of 1.3 million in April 2020.
Table of Comparisons
| Year | Continuing Jobless Claims (in millions) |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 2.5 |
| 2009 | 6.6 |
| 2010 | 4.5 |
| 2011 | 3.3 |
| 2012 | 2.6 |
| 2013 | 2.2 |
| 2014 | 2.0 |
| 2015 | 2.2 |
| 2016 | 2.2 |
| 2017 | 1.9 |
| 2018 | 1.6 |
| 2019 | 1.4 |
| 2020 | 1.3 |
Summary
Continuing jobless claims refer to the number of people who have filed for unemployment benefits and are still receiving them. This figure is released by the U.S. Department of Labor on a weekly basis and is used to gauge the health of the labor market. It is an important indicator of the overall economic health of the country, as it reflects the number of people who are out of work and unable to find new employment. The number of continuing jobless claims has fluctuated over the years, with the highest levels occurring during recessions. For more information about continuing jobless claims, visit the U.S. Department of Labor website or the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.
See Also
- Unemployment Rate
- Initial Jobless Claims
- Job Openings
- Labor Force Participation Rate
- Employment-Population Ratio
- Average Hourly Earnings
- Average Weekly Hours
- Nonfarm Payrolls
- Consumer Price Index
- Producer Price Index
