US weekly jobless claims edge down as layoffs remain low

WASHINGTON, Sept 10 (Reuters) - ‌The number ​of ​Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, suggesting that layoffs ‌remained low and continued to anchor the ⁠labor market.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dipped 1,000 ‌to a seasonally adjusted ‌206,000 for the week ended September 5, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists polled ​by Reuters had forecast 205,000 claims for the latest week.

Claims have been hemmed into a ⁠narrow 189,000-212,000 range since mid-July, consistent with a labor market that ​is regaining its footing after hitting a speed bump from the end of ​spring and through much ‌of summer. The government reported last week that nonfarm payrolls jumped 162,000 ⁠jobs in August, the largest gain in five months, after rising 21,000 in July. The unemployment rate ⁠was unchanged at 4.1%.

Despite the pickup in payroll gains, ​long-term unemployment remains a problem, with the median duration of joblessness near 4-1/2-year highs in August. The claims ‌report showed the number of people receiving unemployment benefits after an initial ‌week of aid, a proxy for hiring, slipped ⁠1,000 to a ‌seasonally adjusted 1.774 ​million during the week ended August 29.

(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Chizu ‌Nomijyama)

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