Initial claims is the most often published data related to unemployment, which may give an idea of future unemployment
Jobless claims represent a segment of the “unemployment” data. This report is related only to insured unemployment and should not be understood as general new unemployment figures. As an example, during 2008 only 36% of the total unemployed received “unemployment insurance” benefits.
Workers that lose their jobs and are covered by unemployment insurance, typically file claims (known as “initial claims”) that serve as notice that they are beginning a period of unemployment.
Initial claims figures are not produced by the Bureau of Labour Statistics but by the Employment and Training Administration, an agency of the US Department of Labour.
Because initial claims are less demanding than the general unemployment data, it may be considered as an indication of the future unemployment data results. A rise in the initial claims may indicate that entities may reduce personnel due to possibly worsening economic conditions, which in turn may lead to the depreciation of the US dollar.
Periodicity of publication
Initial Claims are published by the US Department of Labour every Thursday of the week at 8.30am .