U.S. jobless claims drop for second week

Applications for U.S. state unemployment insurance fell for a second week, partially unwinding a recent spike in claims as the omicron wave recedes.

Initial jobless claims decreased by 23,000, to 238,000, in the week ended Jan. 29, U.S. Department of Labor data showed Thursday.

Continuing claims for state benefits fell to 1.63 million in the week ended Jan. 22.

And applications nationwide continued to decline after a surge in recent weeks amid an uptick in COVID-19 cases across the country.

Claims largely have been falling in the past year, and layoffs are at a record low as companies are desperate to retain and attract talent amid ongoing labor shortages.

In Iowa, however, continued weekly claims were reported at 24,084. That’s a rise from 22,478.

First-time claims statewide also climbed, to 2,745 from 2,370 the week before.

Linn County recorded 221 initial claims, up from 193 the previous week. Continued claims were 1,687 — a bump from 1,576 for the previous week.

Johnson County had 86 first-time applications, also up from the week before, which was at 74. Its continued claims came in at 572. That was at 549 the week ended Jan. 22.

The national claims data comes ahead of the government’s monthly employment report, which is forecast to show the United States added 150,000 jobs in January.

A separate report Wednesday showed payrolls at U.S. companies fell by 301,000 last month, the most since April 2020, according to ADP Research Institute.

The numbers do reflect a complete view of unemployment, but only those still seeking work. The figures don’t include people who have stopped looking for employment or who have cycled out of the system.

The Gazette contributed Iowa figures to this report.