Overview

• Initial jobless claims decreased by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 227,000 for the week ending May 17, slightly below economists' forecast of 230,000.
• Continuing claims, a measure of long-term unemployment, rose by 36,000 to 1.903 million for the week ending May 10, indicating potential weaknesses in re-employment trends.
• The median duration of unemployment increased to 10.4 weeks in April, up from 9.8 weeks in March, highlighting longer job search periods for displaced workers.
• The economy added 177,000 jobs in April, but economists predict monthly job growth could slow below 100,000 later in 2025 due to policy-driven economic uncertainties.
• Forecasters anticipate an uptick in layoffs in the second half of 2025, driven by trade tariffs impacting demand and disrupting supply chains.