New York’s initial unemployment claims rise 4 percent in latest week

The number of people applying for new unemployment-insurance benefits in New York state in the week ending Aug. 10, rose by 762, or more than 4 percent, to 18,615, from 17,853 the week before, according to a U.S. Department of Labor news release issued Thursday.

The increase indicates an uptick in layoffs in New York, but comes after four weeks of falling claims that pointed to an improving job market in the state.

The number of New Yorkers continuing to receive unemployment benefits fell in the week ending Aug. 10, declining to 228,501 from 231,041 the week before.

The state data is not seasonally adjusted.

The U.S. Labor Department also reported Thursday that nationwide the number of people filing initial unemployment claims increased by 13,000 to 336,000 for the week ending Aug. 17, compared to the revised figure of 323,000 for the week prior.

The four-week moving average for national initial jobless claims decreased by 2,250 to 330,500 in the latest week. The U.S. data is seasonally adjusted.

The Labor Department will release state data for new unemployment-benefit filings for the week ending Aug. 17 next week.

Contact Rombel at arombel@cnybj.com