U.S. jobless claims rose last week for first time since April

Applications for U.S. state unemployment insurance rose slightly for the first time since late April, likely a temporary blip for a labor market that’s otherwise improving as the economy reopens.

Initial claims in regular state programs increased by 37,000 to 412,000 in the week ended June 12, Labor Department data showed Thursday.

The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for 360,000 applications.

The jump in claims was concentrated in three states — Pennsylvania, California and Kentucky. Even with the increase, layoffs have declined significantly in recent months as health concerns ebb and businesses ramp up hiring. Economists forecast continued improvement in the labor market through the end of the year, with an expectation that the unemployment rate will fall below 5% by the end of the fourth quarter.

Meantime, Michigan and Alabama posted the largest declines in initial claims.

Continuing claims for ongoing state benefits were little changed at 3.5 million the week ended June 5. Initial applications for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for self-employed and gig workers rose last week.

Federal Reserve officials are watching for signs that employment is “inclusive and broad-based.” At the conclusion of the Fed’s two-day policy meeting Wednesday, Chair Jerome Powell said the pace of improvement in the labor market has been uneven.

“Factors related to the pandemic, such as care-giving needs, ongoing fears of the virus, and unemployment insurance payments appear to be weighing on employment growth,” Powell said.

“These factors should wane in coming months, against a backdrop of rising vaccinations, leading to more rapid gains in employment.”