Initial jobless claims drop to three-month low of 420,000
Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – The number of first time jobless claims by unemployed workers fell by 3,000 to 420,000 claims for the week ending Dec. 11, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
It was the lowest level in three weeks. Observers hope it means the labor market is on the mend. Revised first time jobless were 423,000 for the week ending Dec. 4. In addition, the advance seasonally adjusted percentage of jobless workers eligible for unemployment benefits was unchanged at 3.3 percent for the week ending Dec. 4.
There were 15.1 million people officially counted as unemployed. The total number of jobless people claiming benefits in all unemployment compensation programs nationwide was 9,191,897 for the week ending Nov. 27.
Extended unemployment compensation benefits were available in 35 states and the District of Columbia.
States with extended benefits during the week ending Nov. 27 were Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
View full post on Labor Stories
