• US jobless claims decreased by 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 216,000 last week.
• The number of continuing claims rose to 1.96 million, indicating longer job searches.
• Despite some corporate job cuts, layoffs remain low as companies retain employees.
• The four-week moving average of jobless claims fell to 223,750.
• Consumer confidence has also dropped, highlighting growing concerns about job security.

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell by 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 216,000 for the week ended November 22, suggesting ongoing stability in the labor market despite lingering economic uncertainty. This decline undershot economists' forecasts of 225,000 claims, indicating a resilient job market characterized by low layoffs, according to Reuters and India Times.

Despite some significant layoffs announced by large corporations, such as Amazon and Verizon, the actual incidence of job losses has not spiked dramatically. For instance, the claims report showed that even as *continuing claims* increased by 7,000 to 1.96 million, reflecting a challenging environment for job seekers, the overall trend indicates that employers are still holding on to their workforce. This trend is characterized as a "low-hire, low-fire" environment where job openings decline, leading to slower hiring rates, according to Reuters, India Times, and LA Times.

The four-week moving average of jobless claims has eased to 223,750, indicating minimal fluctuations in the data due to seasonal adjustments, particularly around the Thanksgiving holiday. The job claims report is viewed as a critical proxy for layoffs and highlights that while initial claims have remained low, the challenges for those already unemployed are growing, with consumers expressing increasing concerns about job security. According to a recent survey, around 55% of employed Americans are worried about losing their jobs, which adds to the economic apprehension, as reported by LA Times.