WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of laid-off workers seeking U.S. unemployment benefits rose to 1.1 million last week after two weeks of declines, evidence that many employers are still slashing jobs as the coronavirus bedevils the U.S.
economy.The latest figures suggest that more than five months after the viral outbreak erupted the economy is still weak, despite recent gains as some businesses reopen and some sectors like housing and manufacturing have rebounded.
A rising number of people who have lost jobs say they consider their loss to be permanent.The total number of people receiving unemployment aid declined last week from 15.5 million to 14.8 million, the government said Thursday.