U.S. unemployment claims rise after hitting pandemic low

WASHINGTON — The fig of Americans seeking unemployment benefits moved up past week to 332,000 from a pandemic low, a motion that worsening COVID infections whitethorn person somewhat accrued layoffs.

Applications for jobless assistance roseate from 312,000 the week before, the Labor Department said Thursday. Jobless claims, which mostly way the gait of layoffs, person fallen steadily for 2 months arsenic galore employers, struggling to capable jobs, person held onto their employees. Two weeks ago, jobless claims reached their lowest level since March 2020.

Jobless claims roseate 4,000 successful Louisiana, grounds that Hurricane Ida has led to wide occupation losses successful that state. Ida volition apt nick the economy’s maturation successful the existent July-September quarter, though repairs and rebuilding efforts are expected to regain those losses successful the coming months.

Still, Ida unopen down lipid refineries successful Louisiana and Mississippi astir 2 weeks agone and near much than 1 cardinal homes and businesses without electricity. But Ida’s interaction was limited: Applications for jobless assistance fell somewhat successful Mississippi.

The occupation marketplace and the broader system person been slowed successful caller weeks by the delta variant, which has discouraged galore Americans from traveling, staying successful hotels and eating out. Earlier this month, the authorities reported that employers added conscionable 235,000 jobs successful August aft having added astir a cardinal radical successful some June and July.

Hiring successful August plummeted successful industries that necessitate face-to-face interaction with the public, notably restaurants, hotels and retailers. Still, immoderate jobs were added successful different areas, and the unemployment complaint really dropped to 5.2% from 5.4%.

The dependable autumn successful play applications for unemployment benefits coincides with a scaling-back of assistance for jobless Americans. Last week, much than 8 cardinal radical mislaid each their unemployment benefits with the expiration of 2 national programs that covered gig workers and radical who person been jobless for much than six months. Those exigency programs were created successful March 2020, erstwhile the pandemic archetypal tore done the economy.

An further 2.7 cardinal radical who are receiving regular authorities unemployment assistance mislaid a $300-a-week national unemployment supplement past week.