Sept. 17, 2021—After steadily falling throughout the summer and hitting a pandemic low two weeks ago, unemployment claims rose slightly last week.
An Associated Press report shows claims increased by 20,000, up to 332,000, but long-term data suggests the rise is fairly small and could be temporary.
"Jobless claims, which generally track the pace of layoffs, have fallen steadily for two months as many employers, struggling to fill jobs, have held onto their workers," the report said.
The four-week average of claims, which helps negate fluctuations in week-to-week numbers, dropped for the fifth-straight week.
