The number of Americans who sought unemployment benefits fell in early June and remained near its lowest level in decades.
Government figures released Thursday show initial jobless claims dropped by 10,000 to 245,000 in the seven days stretching from May 28 to June 3
New applications for unemployment benefits had grown sharply in late May to a five-week high, but the increase was largely due to the Memorial Day holiday and not a reflection of any underlying shift in the health of a vibrant U.S. labour market.
Last week, the U.S. Labor Department said the economy added 138,000 new jobs in May while the unemployment rate fell to a 16-year low of 4.3%.
Initial claims count people who apply for benefits after losing their jobs. New applications for benefits have registered less than 300,000 for 118 straight weeks, the longest run since the early 1970s.
The more accurate four-week average of new claims, meanwhile, rose by 2,250 to 242,000, after decreasing to a 44-year low.
