Weekly U.S. unemployment benefit applications fell 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 339,000, the second-lowest level in more than five years. The decline suggests companies are laying off fewer workers and may step up hiring.
Here are the states with the biggest increases and decreases in unemployment benefit applications. The state-level data are one week behind the national figures.
States with the biggest increases:
California: Up 24,303, due to layoffs in services
Texas: Up 3,050, no reason given
Florida: Up 2,623, due to layoffs in the manufacturing, construction, services, retail and trade industries
Indiana: Up 2,372, due to layoffs in manufacturing
Arizona: Up 1,296, no reason given
States with the biggest decreases:
New York: Down 14,113, due to fewer layoffs in the transportation, educational services and food services
Michigan: Down 5,998, due to layoffs in the enterprise industry
New Jersey: Down 4,204, due to fewer layoffs in educational services, hotels and restaurants, transportation and warehousing, construction and manufacturing
Ohio: Down 3,036, due to fewer layoffs in manufacturing, transportation and communications
Illinois: Down 2,455, no reason given
States with the biggest decreases:
