Washington: The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits increased by 8,000 to a total of 247,000 last week, as per the Labor Department’s latest data released on Thursday. This rise in initial jobless claims surpasses market expectations, which had predicted the figure to be around 236,000. The previous week’s claims were adjusted downward to 239,000.

According to Anadolu Agency, the four-week moving average, often considered a more stable indicator of labor market trends, rose by 4,500 to 235,000 from the previously revised figure of 230,500. In April, the US labor market demonstrated robust growth, adding 177,000 jobs, significantly outperforming forecasts which anticipated an increase of 138,000 positions.

The unemployment rate for April was projected to remain steady at 4.2%, consistent with March’s figures. The upcoming employment data for May is anticipated to be released on Friday.