The number of Americans filing for jobless benefits fell last week in a sign that the labor market remains strong
ByMATT OTT AP business writer
January 30, 2025, 8: 40 AM
The number of Americans filing for jobless benefits fell last week in a sign that the labor market remains strong.
Applications for jobless benefits fell by 16,000 to 207,000 for the week ending January 25, the Labor Department said Thursday. Analysts were expecting 225,000 new applications.
Weekly applications for jobless benefits are considered a proxy for layoffs.
The four-week average, which evens out some of the weekly volatility, ticked down by 1,000 to 212,500.
Though some signs of labor market weakness surfaced in 2024, jobs are still plentiful and layoffs historically low.
Earlier this month, the Labor Department reported that job growth in