Jobless claims jump to 236,000 in early December
The Labor Department said Thursday that initial unemployment claims rose by 44,000 to 236,000 for the week ending Dec. 6, signaling a softer labor market even as claims remain historically low. The four‑week average ticked up to 216,750 and continuing claims fell to 1.84 million for the prior week, while Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned this week that recent job gains may be overstated and the labor market faces 'significant downside risks.'
📌 Key Facts
- Initial claims: 236,000 for week ending Dec. 6, up 44,000 from 192,000
- Four-week moving average: 216,750
- Continuing claims: 1.84 million for week ending Nov. 29 (lowest since mid‑April)
📊 Relevant Data
In November 2024, the unemployment rate for Black Americans was 6.4%, compared to 3.9% for White Americans, 5.3% for Hispanic Americans, and 3.8% for Asian Americans, with an overall rate of 4.2%. Black Americans make up approximately 12.4% of the U.S. population, White Americans 61.6%, Hispanic Americans 19.1%, and Asian Americans 6.3%.
Table A-2. Employment status of the civilian population by race, sex, and age — Bureau of Labor Statistics
Black Americans are overrepresented in industries such as retail, health and social services, and government administration, which have faced job losses in 2024.
Why is Black female unemployment soaring? Experts gather in Washington to find solutions — Fortune
Since Trump's tariffs were implemented, U.S. manufacturing has lost 58,000 jobs as of September 2025.
US manufacturing jobs have plunged since Trump's tariffs — Newsweek