Continued UI claims track with the unemployment rate and spike during recessions: Continued UI claims and unemployment rate, 12-month moving average, 1987–present

 

date Continued claims Unemployment rate
1986-04-01 3223712.42 7.0%
1986-05-01 4255458.25 7.0%
1986-06-01 5033491 7.3%
1986-07-01 5873046.75 7.0%
1986-08-01 6879657.42 6.7%
1986-09-01 7606559.33 6.8%
1986-10-01 8350784 6.6%
1986-11-01 9297450.42 6.6%
1986-12-01 10146485.4 6.3%
1987-01-01 11435585 7.3%
1987-02-01 11604322.8 7.2%
1987-03-01 11250522.5 6.9%
1987-04-01 11149137.7 6.2%
1987-05-01 11016605.3 6.1%
1987-06-01 10883509.9 6.3%
1987-07-01 10667273 6.1%
1987-08-01 10503722.6 5.8%
1987-09-01 10364236 5.7%
1987-10-01 10281574.8 5.7%
1987-11-01 9930789.67 5.6%
1987-12-01 9774621.25 5.4%
1988-01-01 9592622.5 6.3%
1988-02-01 9459568.08 6.2%
1988-03-01 9379865.83 5.9%
1988-04-01 9441964.42 5.3%
1988-05-01 9174792.83 5.4%
1988-06-01 9134333.17 5.5%
1988-07-01 9317370.5 5.5%
1988-08-01 9104570.67 5.4%
1988-09-01 9072094.75 5.2%
1988-10-01 9068507 5.0%
1988-11-01 9038238.25 5.2%
1988-12-01 9210567.17 5.0%
1989-01-01 8940096.75 6.0%
1989-02-01 8928305 5.6%
1989-03-01 8942135 5.2%
1989-04-01 8990362.25 5.1%
1989-05-01 9001729.5 5.0%
1989-06-01 9026787.08 5.5%
1989-07-01 9069445.67 5.3%
1989-08-01 9108969.08 5.1%
1989-09-01 9293159.5 5.1%
1989-10-01 9230954.42 5.0%
1989-11-01 9316321.17 5.2%
1989-12-01 9439123.08 5.1%
1990-01-01 9563622.67 6.0%
1990-02-01 9661101 5.9%
1990-03-01 9978751.5 5.5%
1990-04-01 9853950.5 5.3%
1990-05-01 9949108.17 5.2%
1990-06-01 10215047.7 5.4%
1990-07-01 10156380.1 5.6%
1990-08-01 10250089.4 5.5%
1990-09-01 10384872.4 5.6%
1990-10-01 10502860.2 5.5%
1990-11-01 10673829.7 5.9%
1990-12-01 10945209.1 6.0%
1991-01-01 11251738.3 7.1%
1991-02-01 11622661.1 7.3%
1991-03-01 12146669.5 7.2%
1991-04-01 12537335.7 6.5%
1991-05-01 12884740.5 6.7%
1991-06-01 13265329.3 7.0%
1991-07-01 13538368.8 6.8%
1991-08-01 14007034.2 6.6%
1991-09-01 14027737.4 6.5%
1991-10-01 14185015.3 6.5%
1991-11-01 14589001.3 6.7%
1991-12-01 14457776.2 6.9%
1992-01-01 14564120.8 8.1%
1992-02-01 14923703.8 8.2%
1992-03-01 14526238.9 7.8%
1992-04-01 14481206.9 7.2%
1992-05-01 14697792 7.3%
1992-06-01 14396582.1 8.0%
1992-07-01 14370166.7 7.7%
1992-08-01 14373778.8 7.4%
1992-09-01 14345953.3 7.3%
1992-10-01 14493741.5 6.9%
1992-11-01 14129779.3 7.1%
1992-12-01 13929575.8 7.1%
1993-01-01 13936907.9 8.0%
1993-02-01 13313653.3 7.8%
1993-03-01 13070847.7 7.4%
1993-04-01 12874476.3 6.9%
1993-05-01 12655579.2 6.8%
1993-06-01 12530932.9 7.2%
1993-07-01 12598404.5 7.0%
1993-08-01 12211740.8 6.6%
1993-09-01 12110564.1 6.4%
1993-10-01 12029721.8 6.4%
1993-11-01 11980291.3 6.2%
1993-12-01 11953968.4 6.1%
1994-01-01 11949849.9 7.3%
1994-02-01 12012188.9 7.1%
1994-03-01 12039046.3 6.8%
1994-04-01 12248476.1 6.2%
1994-05-01 12013030 5.9%
1994-06-01 11984426.7 6.2%
1994-07-01 11937592.5 6.2%
1994-08-01 11894241.9 5.9%
1994-09-01 11841306.3 5.6%
1994-10-01 11754971 5.4%
1994-11-01 11670803.3 5.3%
1994-12-01 11837263.8 5.1%
1995-01-01 11469730.3 6.2%
1995-02-01 11359798 5.9%
1995-03-01 11272741.8 5.7%
1995-04-01 11178918.6 5.6%
1995-05-01 11121017.3 5.5%
1995-06-01 11084635.5 5.8%
1995-07-01 11073495.3 5.9%
1995-08-01 11063983.9 5.6%
1995-09-01 11240736.8 5.4%
1995-10-01 11091966.6 5.2%
1995-11-01 11130023.2 5.3%
1995-12-01 11194006.3 5.2%
1996-01-01 11255401.8 6.3%
1996-02-01 11327088.9 6.0%
1996-03-01 11637924.8 5.8%
1996-04-01 11447393.8 5.4%
1996-05-01 11451607.2 5.4%
1996-06-01 11617918 5.5%
1996-07-01 11382655.3 5.6%
1996-08-01 11525718.2 5.1%
1996-09-01 11303978.4 5.0%
1996-10-01 11245224.8 4.9%
1996-11-01 11375029.4 5.0%
1996-12-01 11084817.8 5.0%
1997-01-01 11024693.8 5.9%
1997-02-01 10911318.5 5.7%
1997-03-01 10752280.9 5.5%
1997-04-01 10648178.9 4.8%
1997-05-01 10734635.7 4.7%
1997-06-01 10461413.6 5.2%
1997-07-01 10391381.8 5.0%
1997-08-01 10312387.8 4.8%
1997-09-01 10248099.3 4.7%
1997-10-01 10180302.7 4.4%
1997-11-01 10090217 4.3%
1997-12-01 9997574.25 4.4%
1998-01-01 10147151.4 5.2%
1998-02-01 10061158.4 5.0%
1998-03-01 9771268.92 5.0%
1998-04-01 9723662.67 4.1%
1998-05-01 9660318.42 4.2%
1998-06-01 9636821.42 4.7%
1998-07-01 9661794.75 4.7%
1998-08-01 9660191.92 4.5%
1998-09-01 9636543 4.4%
1998-10-01 9777978.17 4.2%
1998-11-01 9615214.08 4.1%
1998-12-01 9602878.25 4.0%
1999-01-01 9606854.33 4.8%
1999-02-01 9611597.5 4.7%
1999-03-01 9612563.17 4.4%
1999-04-01 9631479.5 4.1%
1999-05-01 9662724.67 4.0%
1999-06-01 9667785.33 4.5%
1999-07-01 9783345.5 4.5%
1999-08-01 9590138.75 4.2%
1999-09-01 9596225.42 4.1%
1999-10-01 9577235.75 3.8%
1999-11-01 9540251.17 3.8%
1999-12-01 9494707.33 3.7%
2000-01-01 9395277.25 4.5%
2000-02-01 9352714.33 4.4%
2000-03-01 9293342.58 4.3%
2000-04-01 9377838 3.7%
2000-05-01 9131795.42 3.8%
2000-06-01 9080714.08 4.1%
2000-07-01 9036677.17 4.2%
2000-08-01 9020445.75 4.1%
2000-09-01 9158840.25 3.8%
2000-10-01 9024910.67 3.6%
2000-11-01 9062202.58 3.7%
2000-12-01 9382925.67 3.7%
2001-01-01 9269408.17 4.7%
2001-02-01 9401290.17 4.6%
2001-03-01 9829149 4.5%
2001-04-01 9881506.83 4.2%
2001-05-01 10137560.1 4.1%
2001-06-01 10640504.9 4.7%
2001-07-01 10795647.2 4.7%
2001-08-01 11107271.1 4.9%
2001-09-01 11515117.4 4.7%
2001-10-01 11914874.8 5.0%
2001-11-01 12347015.8 5.3%
2001-12-01 12887236.5 5.4%
2002-01-01 13359286.8 6.3%
2002-02-01 13782734.5 6.1%
2002-03-01 14267808.8 6.1%
2002-04-01 14603003.8 5.7%
2002-05-01 14878983.2 5.5%
2002-06-01 15139621.2 6.0%
2002-07-01 15297067.4 5.9%
2002-08-01 15675974.5 5.7%
2002-09-01 15533653.8 5.4%
2002-10-01 15545188.1 5.3%
2002-11-01 15795085.6 5.6%
2002-12-01 15445909.3 5.7%
2003-01-01 15384677.7 6.5%
2003-02-01 15337254.2 6.4%
2003-03-01 15307534.3 6.2%
2003-04-01 15290520.4 5.8%
2003-05-01 15577615 5.8%
2003-06-01 15319382.3 6.5%
2003-07-01 15356715.6 6.3%
2003-08-01 15392259.8 6.0%
2003-09-01 15402210.1 5.8%
2003-10-01 15382925.2 5.6%
2003-11-01 15323180.8 5.6%
2003-12-01 15237784.1 5.4%
2004-01-01 15454104.1 6.3%
2004-02-01 15320483.3 6.0%
2004-03-01 14786383 6.0%
2004-04-01 14577854.1 5.4%
2004-05-01 14292908.3 5.3%
2004-06-01 14074157.2 5.8%
2004-07-01 14053564 5.7%
2004-08-01 13562430.2 5.4%
2004-09-01 13355202.4 5.1%
2004-10-01 13357721.3 5.1%
2004-11-01 12909487.8 5.2%
2004-12-01 12708147.4 5.1%
2005-01-01 12474012.3 5.7%
2005-02-01 12295790.8 5.8%
2005-03-01 12153239.2 5.4%
2005-04-01 12237986.8 4.9%
2005-05-01 11893413.5 4.9%
2005-06-01 11791563.9 5.2%
2005-07-01 11668434.5 5.2%
2005-08-01 11580005.7 4.9%
2005-09-01 11544628.8 4.8%
2005-10-01 11555148.8 4.6%
2005-11-01 11538312.1 4.8%
2005-12-01 11761501.8 4.6%
2006-01-01 11404691.1 5.1%
2006-02-01 11331897.3 5.1%
2006-03-01 11255295.7 4.8%
2006-04-01 11174907.2 4.5%
2006-05-01 11115067.1 4.4%
2006-06-01 11055592.9 4.8%
2006-07-01 10998031.9 5.0%
2006-08-01 10966819.8 4.6%
2006-09-01 11064630.8 4.4%
2006-10-01 10767666 4.1%
2006-11-01 10696619 4.3%
2006-12-01 10639958.7 4.3%
2007-01-01 10623270.5 5.0%
2007-02-01 10644641 4.9%
2007-03-01 10894424.5 4.5%
2007-04-01 10716722 4.3%
2007-05-01 10740570.9 4.3%
2007-06-01 10954510.3 4.7%
2007-07-01 10798129.7 4.9%
2007-08-01 10828346.8 4.6%
2007-09-01 10865616.7 4.5%
2007-10-01 10898168.4 4.4%
2007-11-01 10936063.8 4.5%
2007-12-01 11020453.3 4.8%
2008-01-01 11125663.6 5.4%
2008-02-01 11227725.3 5.2%
2008-03-01 11412074.1 5.2%
2008-04-01 11575148.9 4.8%
2008-05-01 11989769 5.2%
2008-06-01 11978442 5.7%
2008-07-01 12190633.9 6.0%
2008-08-01 12703172.3 6.1%
2008-09-01 12806349.6 6.0%
2008-10-01 13137723.7 6.1%
2008-11-01 13919672.4 6.5%
2008-12-01 14302234.4 7.1%
2009-01-01 15600138 8.5%
2009-02-01 16540338.8 8.9%
2009-03-01 17314945.3 9.0%
2009-04-01 18420667.3 8.6%
2009-05-01 19807100.3 9.1%
2009-06-01 20888180.3 9.7%
2009-07-01 21882765.1 9.7%
2009-08-01 22945656.6 9.6%
2009-09-01 23653079.8 9.5%
2009-10-01 24654004.4 9.5%
2009-11-01 24759500.5 9.4%
2009-12-01 24948648.5 9.7%
2010-01-01 24932470.7 10.6%
2010-02-01 24733735.7 10.4%
2010-03-01 24349466.8 10.2%
2010-04-01 23852134.8 9.5%
2010-05-01 23126317.7 9.3%
2010-06-01 22536653.8 9.6%
2010-07-01 22346165.1 9.7%
2010-08-01 21372247.3 9.5%
2010-09-01 20941860.5 9.2%
2010-10-01 20439427.4 9.0%
2010-11-01 20048638 9.3%
2010-12-01 19686879.4 9.1%
2011-01-01 19230164.4 9.8%
2011-02-01 18870488.5 9.5%
2011-03-01 18517615.2 9.2%
2011-04-01 18494900.3 8.7%
2011-05-01 17833025.5 8.7%
2011-06-01 17565297.8 9.3%
2011-07-01 17236790.7 9.3%
2011-08-01 17008083.4 9.1%
2011-09-01 16801221.7 8.8%
2011-10-01 16561186.1 8.5%
2011-11-01 16388326.7 8.2%
2011-12-01 16550683.1 8.3%
2012-01-01 15970551.8 8.8%
2012-02-01 15795419.1 8.7%
2012-03-01 15936549.8 8.4%
2012-04-01 15458462.6 7.7%
2012-05-01 15318804 7.9%
2012-06-01 15444977.3 8.4%
2012-07-01 15016196.6 8.6%
2012-08-01 14893651.8 8.2%
2012-09-01 15004919.7 7.6%
2012-10-01 14616662.9 7.5%
2012-11-01 14504052.3 7.4%
2012-12-01 14334882.1 7.6%
2013-01-01 14222325.1 8.5%
2013-02-01 14105332.3 8.1%
2013-03-01 13979437.5 7.6%
2013-04-01 13887738.3 7.1%
2013-05-01 13786938.6 7.3%
2013-06-01 13650868.1 7.8%
2013-07-01 13557660.8 7.7%
2013-08-01 13661508.2 7.3%
2013-09-01 13298001.2 7.0%
2013-10-01 13193498.3 7.0%
2013-11-01 13291004.2 6.6%
2013-12-01 12903157.1 6.5%
2014-01-01 12812442.8 7.0%
2014-02-01 12740053.8 7.0%
2014-03-01 12631935.4 6.8%
2014-04-01 12527144.2 5.9%
2014-05-01 12622117.1 6.1%
2014-06-01 12261952 6.3%
2014-07-01 12100161.7 6.5%
2014-08-01 11934684.3 6.3%
2014-09-01 11804562 5.7%
2014-10-01 11655553.2 5.5%
2014-11-01 11469039.4 5.5%
2014-12-01 11297585.3 5.4%
2015-01-01 11332218.4 6.1%
2015-02-01 11132922.2 5.8%
2015-03-01 10699523 5.6%
2015-04-01 10552348.9 5.1%
2015-05-01 10392814.3 5.3%
2015-06-01 10292303 5.5%
2015-07-01 10195437.4 5.6%
2015-08-01 10103304.4 5.2%
2015-09-01 10040337.6 4.9%
2015-10-01 10134215.9 4.8%
2015-11-01 9893139.08 4.8%
2015-12-01 9827016.92 4.8%
2016-01-01 9760319.17 5.3%
2016-02-01 9705233.08 5.2%
2016-03-01 9651051.08 5.1%
2016-04-01 9781827.25 4.7%
2016-05-01 9575703.58 4.5%
2016-06-01 9544677.42 5.1%
2016-07-01 9677465.92 5.1%
2016-08-01 9463651 5.0%
2016-09-01 9428153 4.8%
2016-10-01 9376733.42 4.7%
2016-11-01 9319429.42 4.4%
2016-12-01 9464876.33 4.5%
2017-01-01 9169059.42 5.1%
2017-02-01 9106806.92 4.9%
2017-03-01 9049473.25 4.6%
2017-04-01 8980339.17 4.1%
2017-05-01 8908439.92 4.1%
2017-06-01 8843974.83 4.5%
2017-07-01 8770058.83 4.6%
2017-08-01 8710928.67 4.5%
2017-09-01 8798851.33 4.1%
2017-10-01 8611248.42 3.9%
2017-11-01 8570286.08 3.9%
2017-12-01 8508491 3.9%
2018-01-01 8461068.25 4.5%
2018-02-01 8401152.58 4.4%
2018-03-01 8507957.17 4.1%
2018-04-01 8280132.58 3.7%
2018-05-01 8219309.42 3.6%
2018-06-01 8282574.17 4.2%
2018-07-01 8057803 4.1%
2018-08-01 7986337.92 3.9%
2018-09-01 7892617.5 3.6%
2018-10-01 7816504.58 3.5%
2018-11-01 7738455.58 3.5%
2018-12-01 7640169.33 3.7%
2019-01-01 7564752.92 4.4%
2019-02-01 7513887.17 4.1%
2019-03-01 7468670.83 3.9%
2019-04-01 7423389.17 3.3%
2019-05-01 7403961.42 3.4%
2019-06-01 7387490.58 3.8%
2019-07-01 7368502.42 4.0%
2019-08-01 7483986.5 3.8%
2019-09-01 7359553.58 3.3%
2019-10-01 7368125.83 3.3%
2019-11-01 7512472 3.3%
2019-12-01 7382242.25 3.4%
2020-01-01 7394338.58 4.0%
2020-02-01 7556511.58 3.8%
2020-03-01 8034874.42 4.5%
2020-04-01 13160727.5 14.4%
2020-05-01 21081976.8 13.0%
2020-06-01 26317098 11.2%
2020-07-01 31303808.1 10.5%
2020-08-01 36447900.4 8.5%
2020-09-01 39810666.7 7.7%
2020-10-01 42492037.3 6.6%
2020-11-01 43765718.3 6.4%
2020-12-01 44935284.8 6.5%
2021-01-01 46433800.1 6.8%
2021-02-01 47159004.6 6.6%
2021-03-01 47252077.8 6.2%
2021-04-01 42839213.3 5.7%
2021-05-01 35882660.6 5.5%
2021-06-01 31082633 6.1%
2021-07-01 26818311 5.7%
2021-08-01 21923385.6 5.3%
2021-09-01 18902753.8 4.6%
2021-10-01 16608224.2 4.3%
2021-11-01 15284822.2 3.9%
2021-12-01 14083419.5 3.7%
2022-01-01 12714993.3 4.4%
2022-02-01 11761780.2 4.1%
2022-03-01 10939736 3.8%
2022-04-01 10268380 3.3%
2022-05-01 9218041.83 3.4%
2022-06-01 8567441 3.8%
2022-07-01 7877084 3.8%
2022-08-01 7430997.17 3.8%
2022-09-01 7035806.08 3.3%
2022-10-01 6693544.83 3.4%
2022-11-01 6549694.42 3.4%
2022-12-01 6648748.42 3.3%
2023-01-01 6433512.83 3.9%
2023-02-01 6438828.17 3.9%
2023-03-01 6492045.83 3.6%
2023-04-01 6613721.17 3.1%
2023-05-01 6725178.42 3.4%
2023-06-01 6849948.83 3.8%
2023-07-01 7012868.33 3.8%
2023-08-01 7142821.33 3.9%
2023-09-01 7395035.5 3.6%
2023-10-01 7408561.67 3.6%
2023-11-01 7511749 3.5%
2023-12-01 7610908.42 3.5%
2024-01-01 7684056.5 4.1%
2024-02-01 7742345.75 4.2%
2024-03-01 7947226.67 3.9%
2024-04-01 7820873.75 3.5%
2024-05-01 7844774.25 3.7%
2024-06-01 8017374 4.3%
2024-07-01 7902062 4.5%
2024-08-01 8063288.17 4.4%
2024-09-01 7938081.58 3.9%
2024-10-01 7954079.33 3.9%
2024-11-01 8119853.67 4.0%
2024-12-01 7987726.08 3.8%
2025-01-01 8025595.33 4.4%
2025-02-01 8052895.08 4.5%
2025-03-01 8087673 4.2%
2025-04-01 8121145.83 3.9%
2025-05-01 8305242.67 4.0%
2025-06-01 8194461.75 4.4%
2025-07-01 8221360.5 4.6%
2025-08-01 8260495.42 4.5%
2025-09-01 8288029.25 4.3%
2025-10-01 8309536.83
2025-11-01 8329549 4.3%
Economic Policy Institute

Note: Data are not seasonally adjusted. Monthly continued claims are constructed by averaging weekly values. Last updated December 5, 2025.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Employment and Training Administration Report 539 data from Department of Labor.

View the underlying data on epi.org.