U.S. State Jobless Claims Ease While Federal Programs Swell

Applications for U.S. state unemployment insurance fell slightly last week while claims for federal benefits swelled, illustrating the persistent challenges in the system of delivering financial aid to the nation’s jobless.

Initial jobless claims in regular state programs decreased by 19,000 to 793,000 in the week ended Feb. 6, after an upward revision to the prior period, Labor Department data showed Thursday. On an unadjusted basis, claims fell by 36,534 to 813,145. Economists in a Bloomberg survey estimated 760,000 initial claims.

WATCH: U.S. initial jobless claims in regular state programs fell by 19,000 to 793,000 in the week ended Feb. 6.

Source: Bloomberg)

Figures for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, a program for self-employed and gig workers, rose by 1.5 million ...