The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits was unchanged at higher levels last week as labor market conditions continued to steadily ease. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits held steady at a seasonally adjusted 248,

Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Texas rose last week compared with the week prior, the U.S. Department of Labor said June 19. New jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, increased to 19,223 in the week ending June 13,

The US unemployment rate held at 4.2 percent in May and has remained in a narrow range of 4.0 percent to 4.2 percent since May 2024. The number of unemployed people, at 7.2 million, changed little over the month.