U.S. Jobless Claims Rose to 286,000 Last Week

Filings for jobless claims rose sharply from near the lowest levels on record, as workers and businesses contend with Omicron-related disruptions in a tight labor market.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits, a proxy for layoffs, rose to 286,000 during the week that ended on Jan. 15, following an increase for the week ended Jan. 8, the Labor Department said Thursday. The four-week average, which smooths out volatility, was 231,000, an increase of 20,000 from last week’s average.

Initial jobless claims, weeklySource: U.S. Employment and Training​Administration via St. Louis FedNote: Seasonally adjusted.

2019...