Weekly Unemployment Claims Jump In Possible Sign of Omicron Hit to Jobs Recovery

A woman walks by a "Now Hiring" sign outside a store in Arlington, Va., on Aug. 16, 2021. Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

The number of American workers filing weekly jobless claims—a proxy for layoffs—rose by 23,000 from the prior week in what could be a sign of an impact from the Omicron surge, though the number of people continuing to claim benefits hit a multi-decade low, suggesting further labor market tightening.

First-time filings for unemployment insurance came in at 230,000 for the week ending Jan. 8, up from the prior week’s 207,000, the Labor Department said in a report (pdf).