People Seeking Jobless Benefits Dropped to Lowest Level

According to WILX-News 10, the number of people seeking jobless benefits dropped last week to the lowest level since November 1969.

The Labor Department said that weekly applications for unemployment aid declined 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 199,000.The four week average dropped 5,500 to 215,000.

The tally of furloughed federal employees requesting unemployment aid jumped to 25, 419, more than double the previous week.  Those figures are tracked in a separate category.

As the government shut down continues, many companies are desperate for workers to respond to solid customer demand, which makes them reluctant to cut staff, even if something like the shutdown disturbs their business.