Slightly more Americans apply for unemployment last week; layoffs remain low

The number of Americans applying for jobless assistance ticked up past week but layoffs stay astatine historically debased levels.

The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless declare applications roseate by 3,000 to 221,000 for nan week of Nov. 2. That’s less than nan 227,000 analysts forecast.

The four-week mean of play claims, which softens immoderate of nan week-to-week fluctuations, fell by 9,750 to 227,250.

Weekly applications for jobless benefits are considered typical of U.S. layoffs successful a fixed week.

Continuing claims, nan full number of Americans collecting jobless benefits, roseate by 39,000 to 1.89 cardinal for nan week of Oct. 26. That's nan astir since precocious 2021.