The Department of Labor said Thursday initial jobless claims, seasonally adjusted, were 222,000 for the week ending April 19. That's 6,000 more than the previous week's revised level.

The Vermont Unemployment Trust Fund is well capitalized. As of the most recent data, there was $260.9 million in the Trust Fund, down about $1.8 million (as claims are paid out on one side, employers are contributing to the fund on the other). The pre-pandemic Trust Fund balance on March 1, 2020, was $506.2 million.

The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits rose marginally last week, suggesting the labor market remains resilient despite darkening clouds over the economy caused by tariffs on imported goods.