US applications for jobless benefits inch up for the first time in 7 weeks, but layoffs remain low

The number of Americans filing for jobless benefits inched up modestly last week as business continue to retain staff despite economic uncertainty around U.S. trade policy
FILE - Katy Frank, a former computer scientist at the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab, who lost her job Thursday, protests outside the John D. Dingell Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Detroit, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

FILE - Katy Frank, a former computer scientist at the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab, who lost her job Thursday, protests outside the John D. Dingell Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Detroit, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Business
By MATT OTT – AP Business Writer
July 31, 2025
X

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans filing for jobless benefits inched up modestly last week as business continue to retain staff despite economic uncertainty around U.S. trade policy.

The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims for the week ending July 26 ticked up by 1,000 to 218,000, less than the 225,000 new applications analysts forecast. Applications for unemployment aid are viewed as representative of layoffs.

It was the first time in seven weeks that benefit applications rose, although layoffs remain at historically low levels.

The four-week average of claims, which evens out some of the week-to-week fluctuations, fell by 3,500 to 221,000.

The total number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits for the previous week of July 19 was unchanged at 1.95 million.

In Other News
1
Disability inclusion has come along with passage of ADA 35 years ago
2
Hamilton honors beloved former coach with court naming
3
Victim of boat accident at Sunday Champions Park Lake race identified
4
Hamilton schools aims to make ‘pawsitive’ impact with therapy dog
5
Master Gardeners welcome community to annual Jubilee Saturday