The number of people claiming unemployment benefits rose by 1,000 to 199,000 in the week ending October 10, 2026, coming in slightly below market expectations of 200,000. Continuing claims, a gauge of ongoing unemployment in the US, fell by 4,000 to 1,710,000, remaining relatively close to the more-than-three-year low reached two weeks prior. Meanwhile, initial claims filed by federal employees, which remain in the spotlight due to the administration's push to shrink the public sector, rose by 68 to 463.