The number of applications for support in the US has grown more than expected

The number of applications for support in the US has grown more than expected

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits last week has risen more than economists expected. The US Department of Labor reported that new applications that were not registered during the week when the United States celebrated Thanksgiving and the Americans had an extended weekend also contributed to this. According to the latest data, the number of new applications for unemployment benefits in the US in the week to December 5 increased by 137 thousand to 853 thousand from the revised 716 thousand a week earlier. At the same time, economists estimated that their number would increase to only 725 thousand from the original 712 thousand before the revision. The number of new applications last week reached the highest level since September 19. This reflects the deteriorating labor market situation following the sharp rise in new cases of COVID-19, for which local governments and authorities have reintroduced some restrictions. The ministry also said that the number of people receiving unemployment benefits even after the first week increased by 230,000 to 5.76 million in the seven days to November 28, for the first time since the end of August. The government said late last week that the US economy had created only 245,000 jobs in November 2020. This was the smallest increase since the start of the recovery in job creation in May and the fifth direct slowdown in employment growth. Only 12.4 million of the 22.2 million jobs lost in March and April were restored.