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Composite detail
Standardized blend of claims, layoffs, and weekly-hours pressure.
0.19
As of 2026-05-23
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A z-score blend of initial claims, layoffs and discharges, and the inverse of weekly hours. Higher readings indicate more labor-market stress.
Source: calculated by Labor Pulse from official input series shown below. The composite is an index-style summary, not a direct government-published statistic.
How to read this metric
Read this as a pressure gauge for labor-market strain. Higher values mean claims, layoffs, or reduced hours are pointing toward more stress. Lower values mean the labor market looks steadier. A move up is most concerning when it lasts for several weeks or months and appears alongside weaker hiring or rising unemployment.
Composite history
Source: calculated by Labor Pulse from ICSA, JTSLDR, AWHAETP
These are the source indicators used to calculate the composite. Open each one to see its original publisher, latest observation, and plain-English explanation.
Use in research
Labor Pulse Research. “Labor Market Stress.” Labor Pulse. Dialed Intelligence LLC. Retrieved August 31, 2026, from https://labor-pulse.vercel.app/composites/labor_stress. Data source: ICSA, JTSLDR, AWHAETP.
Cite the original publisher when referring to the underlying data. Use this citation for the Labor Pulse presentation and interpretation.