Washington, DC, November 2, 2006--The number of workers filing for state unemployment benefits rose by 18,000 to a 16-week high of 327,000 last week, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
The four-week average of new claims, which smoothes out one-time events such as holidays, weather or strikes, rose to 311,250, the highest in three weeks.
There were no special identified factors boosting last week's filings, a Labor Department spokesman said.
The report reflected a relatively healthy job market, with the number of former workers collecting unemployment benefits dropping by 27,000 in the week ending Oct. 21 to 2.42 million, the lowest in four months.
The four-week average of continuing claims dropped by about 6,000 to 2.43 million, the lowest since early July.
In the past year, initial claims are essentially unchanged while continuing claims are down about 2%.
The report reflected a relatively healthy job market.
