Layoffs rise slightly, but stay at pre-pandemic levels

The number of workers filing for jobless aid ticked up last week but stayed near a historic low, underscoring that employers are unwilling to lay off workers amid a tight job market.

Some 206,000 people filed unemployment claims in the week ended December 11, the Labor Department said Thursday. That's an increase of 18,000 from the prior week but still the lowest weekly number since 1969.

The number of people receiving continuing unemployment aid of any kind rose to 1.8 million on December 4. One year ago this time, that figure was 5.6 million.