Applications for U.S. unemployment benefits fell to their lowest level in eight months last week as businesses continue to retain workers despite elevated interest rates meant to cool the economy and labor market.
Jobless claim applications fell by 13,000 to 198,000 for the week ending Oct. 14, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
Despite the low level of weekly first-time jobless benefit applications, the number of Americans remaining on the unemployment rolls — known as “continuing claims” — jumped to its highest level in three months.
In August, about 736,000 people re-entered the search for employment, boosting the unemployment rate from 3.5% to 3.8%, where it remains today.
In August, American employers posted a surprising 9.6 million job openings, up from 8.9 million in July and the first uptick in three months.
Persons:
” —, ‘, ”, Nancy Vanden Houten
Organizations:
Labor Department, Oxford Economics, Federal Reserve