US filings for jobless aid climbed to 282,000 last week; but job market still looks healthy
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Applications for U.S. jobless aid climbed last week, but the number of Americans seeking benefits remains close to historic lows in a positive sign for the job market.
The Labor Department says weekly applications for jobless aid rose 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 282,000. The less volatile four-week average was 270,750.
Applications are a proxy for layoffs and have been bouncing around record lows for nine months. The low numbers point to a solid environment for hiring, suggesting that employers are holding onto workers and potentially looking to add staff on the expectation of further growth.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The economy added roughly 211,000 jobs in the November and 298,000 in October. The unemployment rate has held at 5 percent.