State jobless claims drop by nearly 4,000 (Video)

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California reported the largest drop in new claims, of 3,850. The state attributed the change to fewer layoffs in the service industry.

Melissa Wiese

Digital Editor- Sacramento Business Journal

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The number of people making new jobless claims shot up by 12,000 to 290,000, according to a weekly report from the U.S. Department of Labor. California saw the largest drop in new claims.

The four-week moving average was 285,000, or an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's revised average.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits was 2.1 million, or a drop of 36,654 from the previous week. In comparison, there were 3.92 million people claiming jobless benefits at this same time last year.

California reported the largest drop in new claims, of 3,850. The state attributed the change to fewer layoffs in the service industry.

Other states reporting large drops in claims: Ohio (2,325), Oregon (931), Tennessee (816) and New York (746). Reporting increases in claims: Michigan (1,921), New Jersey (1,006), Pennsylvania (898), Arkansas (853) and Wisconsin (685).

Read the full unemployment situation report from the Department of Labor.

Melissa Wiese oversees the Sacramento Business Journal's website.