Fewest Americans since 2007 seek jobless benefits

[Omaha Steve]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130815/DA86F9OO1.html

By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER

WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits dropped 15,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 320,000, the fewest since October 2007 - a sign of dwindling layoffs and steady if modest job growth.

The Labor Department said Thursday that the less volatile four-week average fell 4,000 to 332,000, the fewest since November 2007 and the fifth straight decline.



In this Wednesday, Aug., 14, 2013, photo, job seeker Kelsey Devoe, of Miramar, Fla., fills out a contact form at a job fair in Miami Lakes, Fla. The Labor Department reports on the number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits last week on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)


Companies are laying off fewer workers, a trend that has lowered applications for unemployment benefits 14 percent this year. But hiring is still sluggish, resulting in only modest net job growth.

At the depth of the recession in March 2009, weekly applications for unemployment benefits numbered 670,000. They have fallen steadily ever since.

FULL story at link.

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

1. It's just that....

...people have stopped looking for jobs, and most people have low wage jobs now. (Isn't that the obligatory response for threads/info like this?)

[Kolesar]

2. Ha. Since about February 2009...eom

[Sherman A1]

3. A step in the right direction.