#Labour

US Continuing Jobless Claims Flat at 1.782 Million, Labor Market Resilience Supports High Interest Rate Expectations

The latest continuing jobless claims in the US for Q2 2026 remained flat at 1.782 million, lower than the market expectation of 1.79 million. This data confirms the current labor market status of "low hiring, low firing" and strengthens the Federal Reserve's confidence in maintaining higher interest rates for a longer period.

US Initial Jobless Claims Fall to 209,000, Beating Expectations; Labor Market Maintains "Low-Layoff" Resilience

For the week ending May 16, 2026, US initial jobless claims fell to 209,000, a decrease from the previous reading of 211,000 and better than market expectations. In a "low-layoff" environment where companies are reluctant to cut jobs easily, the probability of a short-term interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve has been dampened. However, continuing jobless claims edged up slightly, indicating underlying concerns in the labor market.

China's Q2 Urban Surveyed Unemployment Rate Drops to 5.2%, Beating Expectations; Overall Job Market Shows Temporary Stabilization

China's Q2 (April) 2026 urban surveyed unemployment rate was reported at 5.2%, a significant drop from the previous Q1 reading of 5.4% and better than the market expectation of 5.3%. The unemployment rates in major cities and for the migrant labor force improved simultaneously, indicating that the post-holiday resumption of work has driven a short-term rebound in labor demand. However, the macroeconomic situation of "strong supply and weak demand" remains, and the upcoming graduation season may pose severe challenges to youth employment.

US Continuing Jobless Claims Edge Up to 1.782 Million, Beating Expectations and Highlighting "Low-Hire, Low-Fire" Employment Gridlock

The latest U.S. data for Q2 2026 shows continuing jobless claims increased by 16,000 from the previous reading to 1.782 million, but remained below market expectations of 1.79 million. Although initial claims also rose simultaneously, the overall labor market exhibits a two-way tug-of-war characterized by a "low-hire, low-fire" dynamic. Under the recent pressure of rising inflation, the probability of a short-term interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve has dropped significantly.

US Initial Jobless Claims Rise to 211,000, Exceeding Expectations; Labor Market Shows Signs of Mild Cooling

US initial jobless claims for the latest week climbed to 211,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week's 200,000, and higher than the market expectation of 205,000. Although the data hit a recent high, the four-week moving average and continuing jobless claims still indicate that the labor market retains a certain degree of resilience. This higher-than-expected rise may provide the Federal Reserve with more room for evaluation in its future interest rate decisions.

U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls Add 115,000 Jobs, Beating Expectations; Labor Market Remains Steady but Underlying Concerns Emerge

The newly released U.S. nonfarm payrolls added 115,000 jobs, a slowdown from the previous 178,000 but significantly exceeding the market consensus of 65,000. The unemployment rate remained flat at 4.3%, and wage growth continued to be moderate, indicating that the U.S. job market maintains stability on its soft landing path. However, climbing part-time numbers and a declining labor force participation rate have embedded potential variables for future economic momentum.