Quote from Martinghoul:
Continuing Jobless Claims: number of individuals who are unemployed and are currently receiving unemployment benefits.
Initial Jobless Claims: number of individuals who have filed for unemployment benefits for the first time. To file a claim you must be eligible and satisfy five criteria: 1) Meet the requirements of time worked during a 1yr period (full- or part-time); 2) Become unemployed through no fault of your own (not fired); 3) Must be able to work (no physical or mental impediment to employment); 4) Must be available for work; 5) Must be actively seeking work.
Does that make sense?