The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment aid fell to a seasonally adjusted 305,000, the second-lowest level in six years last week. The decline shows that companies are laying off fewer workers.
Here are the states with the biggest increases in applications. No states reported large decreases in applications. The state-level data are for the week ended Sept. 14, one week behind the national figures:
States with the biggest increases:
California: Up 22,611, as the state processed applications delayed from previous weeks by computer upgrades
Florida: Up 3,946, due to layoffs in agriculture, construction, manufacturing and retail
Georgia: Up 2,690, due to layoffs in manufacturing, administrative and support services, and hotels and restaurants
Nevada: Up 2,504, as the state processed applications delayed from previous weeks by computer upgrades
New York: Up 1,871, due to layoffs in public administration, construction and food service
Texas: Up 1,281, no reason given.
States with the biggest decreases:
No states reported decreases larger than 1,000.