Another 362,000 Individuals Filed New Claims Last Week

U.S. states saw an unexpected increase in initial jobless filings last week, even as companies across industries looked to bring on workers to fill widespread vacancies.

The US Labor Department said on Thursday that first-time government jobless claims increased by 11,000 to a seasonally adjusted 362,000 for the week ending Sept. 25.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 335,000 orders in the latest week.

Claims, which fell from a record 6.149 million in early April 2020, remain well above their pre-pandemic level.