The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose in late July but remained near the lowest level in decades, mirroring a red-hot labour market south of the border that shows little sign of cooling.
Figures released by the U.S. Labor Department showed initial jobless claims from July 16 to July 22 increased by 10,000 to a seasonally-adjusted 244,000.
The average of new claims over the past month, which gives a more stable picture of layoff trends, was unchanged at 244,000.
More broadly, new claims have been under 300,000 for 125 straight weeks, the longest run since the early 1970s. Initial claims count people who apply for unemployment benefits after losing their jobs.
The number of people who had already been collecting unemployment checks, meanwhile, slipped by 13,000 to 1.96 million. These so-called continuing claims have been under two million for 16 straight weeks, a feat last accomplished in 1973.
The U.S. has added 16.6 million new jobs since 2010, pulling the unemployment rate down to 4.4% and heralding the best labour market since the turn of the century.
