<p>Americans filed 92,000 fewer applications for unemployment aid last week, the government reported Thursday, in the latest sign the widespread job losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic was ebbing as businesses reopen.</p>.<p>The Labor Department data showed there were 498,000 initial claims for jobless benefits made in the week ended May 1, seasonally adjusted, far fewer than expected and a new low since the pandemic began in March 2020 and caused a massive spike in layoffs and the need for aid.</p>.<p>The report is the latest evidence the US labour force is recovering, aided by Covid-19 vaccines that have allowed businesses to return to normal, as well as government stimulus spending.</p>.<p>"The level remains high, but filings are moving in the right direction, indicative of improving labour market conditions," Rubeela Farooqi of High Frequency Economics said.</p>.<p>Claims have been on a downward slope over the last month, however, Labor Department said the report for April 24 was revised upwards to show filings actually increased that week by 24,000.</p>.<p>And in the latest week, there were 101,214 new applications, not seasonally adjusted, filed under a special program to help freelance workers who are not eligible for regular jobless benefits, the report said.</p>.<p>All told, nearly 16.2 million people were claiming some form of unemployment benefits as of the week ended April 17, the Labor Department said, a reminder that much remains to be done to restore the record-low unemployment seen before the pandemic.</p>
<p>Americans filed 92,000 fewer applications for unemployment aid last week, the government reported Thursday, in the latest sign the widespread job losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic was ebbing as businesses reopen.</p>.<p>The Labor Department data showed there were 498,000 initial claims for jobless benefits made in the week ended May 1, seasonally adjusted, far fewer than expected and a new low since the pandemic began in March 2020 and caused a massive spike in layoffs and the need for aid.</p>.<p>The report is the latest evidence the US labour force is recovering, aided by Covid-19 vaccines that have allowed businesses to return to normal, as well as government stimulus spending.</p>.<p>"The level remains high, but filings are moving in the right direction, indicative of improving labour market conditions," Rubeela Farooqi of High Frequency Economics said.</p>.<p>Claims have been on a downward slope over the last month, however, Labor Department said the report for April 24 was revised upwards to show filings actually increased that week by 24,000.</p>.<p>And in the latest week, there were 101,214 new applications, not seasonally adjusted, filed under a special program to help freelance workers who are not eligible for regular jobless benefits, the report said.</p>.<p>All told, nearly 16.2 million people were claiming some form of unemployment benefits as of the week ended April 17, the Labor Department said, a reminder that much remains to be done to restore the record-low unemployment seen before the pandemic.</p>