The number of people filing initial applications for unemployment benefits in New York state jumped more than 16 percent to 19,042 in the week ending Oct. 25, from 16,379 the week before.
Layoffs in the state’s construction, accommodation and food services, and manufacturing industries led the increase in the latest week, according to a U.S. Department of Labor news release issued today.
The surge in initial jobless claims comes just a week after the Empire State’s unemployment claims plunged 15 percent to a level nearing a seven-year low. It’s not uncommon for jobless-claims statistics to be volatile from week to week.
The number of people continuing to receive unemployment-insurance benefits in New York also increased in the latest week, rising 3 percent to 158,704 from 153,827 in the prior week, according to the Labor Department data.
The state data is not seasonally adjusted.
Contact Rombel at arombel@cnybj.com