The number of people filing initial applications for unemployment benefits in New York state fell more than 15 percent to 16,379 in the week ending Oct. 18, from 19,344 the week before.
Fewer layoffs in the Empire State’s accommodation and food service, manufacturing, and health care and social assistance industries led the decline in the latest week, according to a U.S. Department of Labor news release issued today.
However, the number of people continuing to receive unemployment-insurance benefits in New York ticked up less than 1 percent to 153,827 in the latest week from 152,975 in the prior week, according to the Labor Department data.
Still, both continuing and current jobless claims are at near seven-year lows in New York.
The state data is not seasonally adjusted.
Contact Rombel at arombel@cnybj.com