Some 198,000 folks filed for jobless claims final week, a near-50-year low

The ranks of U.S. staff submitting for jobless help stays close to a half-century low amid a decent labor market that is spurring employers to maintain maintain of their staff. 

About 198,000 folks filed for first-time unemployment advantages within the week ended December 25, the Labor Division mentioned Thursday. That compares with about 205,000 jobless claims within the earlier week. 

The Labor Division’s four-week shifting common for newly unemployed folks was 199,250, matching a low final seen in October 1969, the company reported.  

Although jobless claims have remained close to a half-century low, there are issues the Omicron variant now sweeping throughout the nation might trigger a bump in layoffs. A spike in COVID-19 instances has sparked some companies to cut back operations, from airways to eating places, in latest days.

— This can be a creating story and might be up to date.