U.S. Jobless Claims at Five-Week Low Amid Tight Labor Market
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U.S. filings for unemployment benefits fell to a five-week low, suggesting tightening in a labor market already operating near full capacity, Labor Department figures showed Thursday.
Claims are near the lowest level in almost 45 years, a reminder that employers are holding on to existing staff given shortages of qualified workers. Applications below the 300,000 tally are considered consistent with a healthy labor market. They’ve been under that figure every week since March 2015.