By Ovunc Kutlu
ANKARA (AA) - The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims fell to a new coronavirus pandemic low, according to the Labor Department on Thursday.
Claims fell 38,000 to 406,000 last week, the lowest level since March 14, 2020. Analysts expected 425,000 for the week ending May 22. The previous week was unrevised at 444,000.
It marked the eighth time during the pandemic that initial jobless claims came in below 700,000.
The world's largest economy, however, still has around 9.8 million unemployed individuals after adding only 266,000 jobs last month.
The unemployment rate rose to 6.1% in April, from 6% the previous month, according to the agency.