The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits dropped last week, a sign that layoffs declined and the job market is slowly improving.
The Labor Department said Thursday that jobless claims declined just 7,000 from the previous week to 411,000 for the week ending June 19, with 3.4 million Americans collecting continuing benefits.
The number of weekly applications for unemployment aid has fallen steadily this year from about 900,000 in January, but remains well above the pre-pandemic average of around 200,000.
There are a record 9.8 million job openings across the country, but desperate employers are struggling to to attract workers.
Jobless claims declined just 7,000 to 411,000 for the week ending June 19
Claims remain above historic averages, but well below last year's record rates
Generous government-funded unemployment benefits, including a $300 weekly federal bonus, have been blamed, as well as a hesitancy to return to work out of fear of contracting the virus.
A shortage of childcare facilities is also keeping some parents, mostly women, outside the labor force. Pandemic-related retirements and transitions into new careers are also factors.
Four states, including Iowa and Alaska, either terminated all federal government-funded benefits or just the $300 supplement on June 12.
They were joined last Saturday by eight other states, including Alabama and West Virginia.
Thirteen other states with Republican governors, including Texas and Florida, will end these benefits for residents between June 26 and July 10.
Louisiana is ending the weekly supplementary check on July 31, the only state with a Democratic governor to terminate federal benefits. For the rest of the country, the federal benefits will lapse on September 6.
Republican governors from 24 states are ending $300 per week unemployment benefits from President Joe Biden in an effort to encourage citizens to
