The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell 3,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 336,000, which suggests that layoffs remain low and that hiring will likely remain steady.
Here are the states with the biggest increases and decreases in applications. The state-level data are for the week ended Feb. 8, one week behind the national level data:
States with the biggest increases:
Georgia: Up 7,229, due to layoffs in manufacturing, construction, administrative services, trade, health care and social assistance industries
North Carolina: Up 1,347, due to layoffs in business services
South Carolina: Up 1,292, due to layoffs in manufacturing
Alabama: Up 1,191, due to layoffs in construction, administrative services and manufacturing
California: Up 1,145, no reason given
Kansas: Up 1,035, no reason given
Washington: Up 1,019, due to layoffs in agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, construction and information services
States with the biggest decreases:
New York: Down 2,721, due to fewer layoffs in construction, manufacturing and retail
Ohio: Down 2,348, due to fewer layoffs in manufacturing
New Jersey: Down 2,035, due to fewer layoffs in construction, administrative services, health care and manufacturing
Connecticut: Down 1,149, no reason given
New Hampshire: Down 1,146, no comment
Pennsylvania: Down 1,117, due to fewer layoffs in construction, retail and administrative services
