The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week, but layoffs remain historically low and the job market broadly healthy
ByMATT OTT AP business writer
January 16, 2025, 8: 40 AM
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week, but layoffs remain historically low and the job market broadly healthy.
Applications for jobless benefits rose by 14,000 for the week ending January 11, the Labor Department said Thursday, up from the previous week’s 203,000. The previous week’s figure was the lowest since February of last year.
The four-week average of claims, which softens some of the week-to-week volatility, dipped by 750 to 212,750.
The total number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits for the week of January 4 fell to by 18,000 to 1.86 million.
Weekl