The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell slightly more than expected last week, indicating that the labour market recovery was improving.
The weekly jobless claims report from the Labour Department yesterday showed unemployment shrinking to levels last seen in 1970.
There is an acute shortage of workers, with a near record number of job openings, keeping layoffs minimal.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits decreased by 17-thousand, to a seasonally adjusted 232,000for the week ended February 19.
That almost reversed the prior week's surge, which economists had blamed on week-to-week volatility in the data and the delayed impact of winter storms early in the month.
Decrease in number of Americans filing for unemployment
9:59 am, Fri February 25, 2022
12:43 am, Wed February 12, 2025
10:40 am, Thu February 13, 2025
10:57 am, Thu February 13, 2025
![](/assets/img/advert-strip.png)