December 12, 2024 – 5:38 AM PST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The number of Americans filing new applications for jobless benefits unexpectedly rose last week and more people continued to collect unemployment checks at the end of November relative to the beginning of the year as demand for labor cools.
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Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 17,000 to a seasonally adjusted 242,000 for the week ended Dec. 7, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 220,000 claims for the latest week.
Last’s week jump in claims likely reflected volatility after the Thanksgiving holiday and likely does not mark an abrupt shift in labor market conditions.
Claims are likely to remain volatile in the weeks ahead, which could make it difficult to get a clear read of the labor…
