Analysis: Initial jobless claims in the U.S. rose last week, but remained at a low level.

Data from the U.S. Department of Labor shows that initial jobless claims rose by 16,000 in the week ending April 4, reaching a seasonally adjusted 219,000. Economists had previously expected 210,000. Low layoff numbers are providing support to the labor market, and there are currently no signs that employers are laying off workers due to the oil price shock caused by the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. The labor market is in what economists call a "low hiring, low laying" situation, which they attribute to the uncertainty surrounding Trump's import tariffs and mass deportations. Although nonfarm payrolls rebounded by 178,000 in March, the average length of time unemployed reached 11.4 weeks, the longest in nearly four and a half years. Continuing jobless claims fell to 1.794 million, but this may be because people have exhausted their unemployment benefits, with most states limiting claims to 26 weeks. (Jinshi)