Jobless claims decline to lowest level since the pandemic began

People walk through the empty Broadway theater district one year after it was closed due to Covid-19 restrictions on March 12, 2021 in New York City.
(Image credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The number of Americans filing new jobless claims just unexpectedly hit the lowest level of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Labor Department said Thursday that 684,000 Americans filed new jobless claims last week, a decline of 97,000 from the revised level of the week prior. Not only was this below the 735,000 claims economists were expecting, it was also the lowest number of new claims since March 14, 2020, CNBC reports.

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The latest jobless numbers mark the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic that the number of weekly claims has been lower than the pre-pandemic record of 695,000.

"Things have improved over the last year, but there are still millions of people dealing with real economic pain," Indeed Hiring Lab economist AnnElizabeth Konkel said, per NBC News. "Increased vaccinations are hopefully the beginning of the end. Once the public health situation is improved, a full recovery can finally take place."

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.