Americans applying for unemployment benefits the labor department reports jobless claims rose by eleven thousand last week but analysts say layoffs are down to the very low numbers seen before the pandemic two hundred twenty seven thousand people applied for benefits the week ending March fifth the four week average for claims which compensates for weekly volatility went up slightly five hundred applications in all by the end of February there were one point four seven million Americans collecting jobless aid the lowest level in more than fifty years and businesses were posting a near record level of open jobs in January I'm