Washington: The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits increased by 4,000 last week, reaching a total of 229,000, as reported by the US Labor Department on Thursday. This rise in initial jobless claims defied market expectations, which had predicted a decline to 220,000.

According to Anadolu Agency, the previous week's claims had remained unchanged at 225,000. The unexpected increase in jobless claims highlights fluctuations in the job market, despite positive employment trends in other areas.

The four-week moving average of jobless claims was recorded at 219,000, marking an increase of 4,250 from the prior week's unchanged average of 214,750. This metric is often used to smooth out the volatility in weekly jobless claims data and provide a more stable view of labor market trends.

In April, the US economy saw an addition of 115,000 jobs, significantly surpassing the anticipated gain of 65,000. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.3% in April, maintaining the same level as March. These figures indicate ongoing complexities in the labor market, with job growth occurring alongside unexpected rises in unemployment claims.