Initial filings for unemployment benefits across the United States rose last week, while data from individual states showed differing trends in the labor market.
New jobless claims, considered a proxy for layoffs, increased nationally to 241,000 in the week ending April 26. This marked an increase of 18,000 claims from the 223,000 reported the week prior on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to data from the Department of Labor data.
State-level data presented a mixed picture. Illinois claims declined to 8,711 filings last week, down from 9,289 the week before. Conversely, Massachusetts claims rose sharply to 8,129, an increase from 4,878 the prior week. North Carolina saw an increase in its claims, rising from 3,156 to 3,235.
Among territories and states, Puerto Rico experienced the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with filings jumping by 213.5%. Rhode Island recorded the largest percentage drop in new claims, with filings falling by 67.5%.
While current weekly claim numbers remain far below levels seen during periods of mass unemployment, the national increase and varied state performances suggest shifts in labor market conditions are ongoing.
The Galesburg Register-Mail reported the decrease in Illinois claims, highlighting the localized nature of unemployment trends.
The national rise brings the figure to its highest point in several months, indicating a potential increase in the pace of layoffs across some sectors of the economy. These weekly reports are closely watched as indicators of the labor market's health.
