The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits increased more than expected last week, but remained at levels consistent with a healthy labor market.

Initial jobless claims for the week ended Jan. 11 rose by 14K to 217K, compared with the 210K consensus and 203K prior (revised from 201K), according to Department of Labor data released on Thursday.

Initial jobless claims rose by 14,000 to 217,000 in the week ending Jan. 11, in part due to a spike in claims from wildfire-ravaged California, the Labor Department said Thursday. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had estimated new claims would rise by 9,

The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits dropped to an eight-month low last week, pointing to low layoffs at the end of 2024 and consistent with a healthy labor market.