Sioux Falls, South Dakota, recently posted the lowest unemployment rate of 1.9 percent, while El Centro, California, recorded the highest rate of 20.2 percent.
The number of Americans filing unemployment benefits last week increased slightly, topping market expectations, according to recent federal government statistics.
New Department of Labor data show that initial jobless claims climbed by 6,000 from the previous week to a three-week high of 225,000 for the week ending September 28.
Markets had penciled in a reading of 220,000, and initial jobless claims remain above levels registered earlier in the year.
Continuing jobless claims—a gauge for the number of unemployed individuals who qualify for unemployment insurance benefits—were little changed at 1.826 million for the week ending September 21.
The four-week jobless claims average, which strips week-to-week volatility, was also relatively flat at 224,250 for the period ending September 28.
This comes after it was outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported September layoffs were down 4 percent from the previous month, though they were up 53 percent from the same time a year ago. Hiring plans were also subdued.
Related Stories
“Rising job cut announcements coupled with fewer hiring plans indicate businesses are hesitant about adding to their payrolls,” LPL Financial’s chief economist Jeffrey