Applications for US unemployment aid remain at 43-year low

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits stayed at a 43-year low last week in the latest sign that layoffs are scarce.

The Labor Department says unemployment benefit applications were unchanged last week at a seasonally adjusted 246,000. The four-week average, a less volatile measure, fell 3,500 to 249,250.

Both figures were at their lowest levels since November 1973.

Applications are a proxy for layoffs, so the figures indicate that companies are cutting few jobs. With the unemployment rate down to 5 percent from 10 percent in October 2009, some businesses say they are having trouble finding qualified workers. That suggests they are less likely to lay anyone off.

Hiring has been solid this year, though slower than in the two previous years.

Related Posts

• 

  Puerto Rico Economic Development Bank: 80,000 Jobs Recovered
  Puerto Rico Economic Development Bank: 80,000 Jobs Recovered
• 

  Labor Dept. Removes ‘Controversial’ Unemployment-Claim Points
  Labor Dept. Removes ‘Controversial’ Unemployment-Claim Points
• 

  Labor Dept. Disburses $23 million from Lost Wages Assistance Program
  Labor Dept. Disburses $23 million from Lost Wages Assistance Program
• 

  Gov. Vázquez enacts law that adds wait week as unemployment benefit
  Gov. Vázquez enacts law that adds wait week as unemployment benefit

You must be logged in to post a comment Login