Jobless claims climb but don't signal trouble
WASHINGTON - 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, an increase of just 1,500. The previous week's claims figure did not get revisied.
Although the latest report showed new jobless claims at not seen since July, the applications are a proxy for layoffs and have been bouncing around near record lows for nine months. Those 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.
The economy added roughly 211,000 jobs in the November and 298,000 in October. The unemployment rate has held at 5 percent.