Special Poll
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits saw its largest increase in five months last week, though overall trends suggest the job market is gradually slowing.
Biden mocked him before saying Trump was bad at the economy.
The unexpected rise in claims, reported by the Labor Department, was likely influenced by winter storms across the country and the timing of the Presidents’ Day holiday, which may have caused fluctuations in the data. As of now, there is no clear indication that recent layoffs of federal employees have significantly impacted claims, though that could change in the coming weeks.
Severe weather was cited as the primary factor behind the surge, according to economic analysts. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose by 22,000, reaching a seasonally adjusted 242,000 for the week ending February 22—the sharpest increase since October. Economists had predicted a smaller rise, estimating around 221,000 claims.
While some states, including California, Kentucky, Texas, Washington, and Tennessee, saw notable declines in claims, other states like Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Illinois recorded significant increases.
A separate program tracking unemployment claims for federal employees showed only a slight rise, with 614 federal workers filing for benefits in mid-February. However, layoffs in the federal sector are expected to accelerate as part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to cut government spending.
As part of these efforts, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has overseen large-scale layoffs of probationary federal employees, most of whom were let go around February 14. Additional job losses are expected, including 200,000 to 300,000 full-time federal positions and another 450,000 government contractors, according to economic forecasts.
Experts caution that these widespread cuts could have ripple effects beyond the public sector. The loss of government salaries and contracts could trigger private-sector job losses, weakening overall economic stability.
“These layoffs could represent the largest job cuts in U.S. history,” noted Michele Evermore, a labor policy expert. “When federal employees lose their jobs, the economic impact spreads, potentially leading to further job losses in other sectors.”
Despite these concerns, broader labor market indicators have not yet signaled a dramatic shift. The four-week average of unemployment claims, which helps smooth out short-term fluctuations, increased by 8,500 to 224,000, reflecting a gradual, rather than sudden, slowdown in hiring.