In the week ending May 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 222,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 211,000. The 4-week moving average was 213,250, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 216,000. This is the lowest level for this average since December 13, 1969 when it was 210,750. Claims taking procedures in Puerto Rico and in the Virgin Islands have still not returned to normal. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.2 percent for the week ending May 5, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the ... (full story)

U.S. filings for unemployment benefits rose by the most in six weeks while still hovering near historically low levels that indicate a tight job market, Labor Department figures showed Thursday. Even with the weekly increase, claims remain near the lowest in almost five decades, indicating the labor market remains robust. Job openings reached a record high in March, and a widespread, persistent shortage of qualified workers is causing employers to retain staff, sometimes using bonuses and non-financial perks to keep people in key roles. Economists may focus more on the latest results because they reflect the week ... (full story)