Jobless claims have moderated in recent weeks, hovering near a half-century low despite a surge in omicron-driven COVID-19 cases.
cases driven by the highly contagious omicron variant threatened to undermine the economy's recovery.
Continuing claims, or the number of Americans who are consecutively receiving unemployment aid, fell to 1.559 million, a decrease of 194,000 from the week's previous level. It marked the lowest level for continuing claims since early March 2020, just as the pandemic began shutting down broad swaths of the economy.
Claims have largely moderated near pre-pandemic levels as the economy recovers and Americans continue traveling, shopping and eating out. Businesses have struggled to keep up with the demand, however, and have reported difficulties in onboarding new employees. Thursday's report suggests that companies are making an effort to retain the workers they already have.
But there is growing unease on Capitol Hill over a stunning rise in cases driven by the highly transmissible omicron variant. The U.S. is now reporting a seven-day moving average of more than 122,000 cases.
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