Markets enter Thursday, February 5, 2026, with labor-market data and several liquidity metrics poised to attract attention. The weekly initial jobless claims and the monthly JOLTs job openings report head the schedule and are expected to provide updated snapshots of hiring dynamics and labor demand in the United States.
Key labor releases
At 8:30 AM ET the Department of Labor will publish initial jobless claims, the weekly tally of individuals filing for unemployment insurance for the first time. This timely indicator offers a near-term view of labor-market conditions. The forecast for the week is 212,000 new claims, compared with the prior reading of 209,000.
Also at 8:30 AM ET the report will include continuing jobless claims, which measures the number of people receiving ongoing unemployment benefits. The consensus forecast for continuing claims stands at 1,850,000, up from the previous 1,827,000.
At 10:00 AM ET the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release its JOLTs job openings report, a monthly survey quantifying vacancies across the U.S. economy on the last business day of the month. The most recent published figure is 7.146 million open positions.
Other scheduled items that could influence markets
- 7:30 AM ET - Challenger Job Cuts: Provides data on announced corporate layoff activity; the previous reading was 35,553 announced cuts and a -8.3% year-over-year change.
- 8:30 AM ET - Jobless Claims 4-Week Average: A smoothed measure of initial claims to reduce weekly volatility; the prior four-week average was 206.25K.
- 10:30 AM ET - Natural Gas Storage: Weekly estimate of the change in underground natural gas inventories. The forecast is -379 billion cubic feet, following a previous change of -242 billion cubic feet.
- 10:50 AM ET - FOMC Member Bostic Speaks: Atlanta Federal Reserve President Raphael Bostic will deliver remarks that market participants may parse for implications on monetary policy.
- 11:30 AM ET - 4-Week Bill Auction: Results for the auction that determine yields on the short-term Treasury instrument; the previous rate was 3.630%.
- 11:30 AM ET - 8-Week Bill Auction: Results for the auction of the 8-week Treasury bill; the prior rate was 3.635%.
- 4:30 PM ET - Fed's Balance Sheet: The weekly statement reporting assets and liabilities of the Federal Reserve System; the previous total was 6,588 billion.
- 4:30 PM ET - Reserve Balances with Federal Reserve Banks: The level of deposits that depository institutions hold at regional Federal Reserve banks; the prior balance reported was 2.883 trillion.
Taken together, the morning labor releases and later liquidity variables such as the Fed's balance sheet and reserve balances will give market participants a cross-section view of both labor-market momentum and funding conditions. Treasury bill auction results arriving midday will further inform short-term rates and cash market liquidity.
For a full schedule of the day's economic events and any updates to timing or forecasts, consult the Economic Calendar maintained by financial news services.