The Associated Press
The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits declined last week, the latest evidence that a sharp economic slowdown earlier this year hasn’t caused employers to cut jobs. The Labor Department says weekly unemployment benefit applications fell 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 312,000.
Here are the states with the biggest increases and decreases in applications. The data is for the week that ended June 14, one week behind the national figures:
States with the biggest decreases:
Georgia: Down 2,245, due to fewer layoffs in manufacturing, administrative services, health care, and hotels and restaurants
Missouri: Down 2,130, due to fewer layoffs in manufacturing, hotels and restaurants, and health care
New York: Down 2,078, due to fewer layoffs in restaurants, construction and information
Tennessee: Down 1,494, no reason given
Texas: Down 1,341, no reason given
States with the biggest increases:
Pennsylvania: Up 7,120, due to layoffs in transportation, restaurants, construction and education
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