Washington: The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims rose 22,000 last week to 231,000, according to US Labor Department data released Thursday.

According to Anadolu Agency, markets expected the figure to rise to 212,000 from the previous week's 209,000. The four-week moving average was 212,250, marking an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's upwardly revised 206,250.

The US economy added 50,000 jobs in December, which was below forecasts, following a 56,000 gain in November. The unemployment rate decreased to 4.4% in December, from 4.5% in November, also below expectations.