washington applications for us unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week sliding to the lowest level since september and underscoring a strong jobs market where many businesses are reluctant to let go of workers initial unemployment claims decreased by 15000 to 190000 in the week ended january 14 labor department data showed thursday the median forecast was for 214000 applicationscontinuing claims or the number of people who have already filed an initial application and are now claiming unemployment benefits rose to 165 million in the week ended january 7 that followed backtoback declines in the previous two weeksthe data can be particularly volatile and difficult to seasonally adjust around holidays the fourweek moving average in initial claims with smooths out some of the weektoweek volatility edged down to 206000 the lowest since midmay while highprofile firms in the finance technology and real estate sectors have announced tens of thousands of job cuts in recent months the broader labor market remains strong the unemployment rate closed 2022 at a fivedecade low of 35 and firms continue to hire at a solid pace amid resilient consumer demand that said many economists expect further layoffs in the months ahead as the federal reserves interest rate hikes hit the economyon an unadjusted basis initial claims fell by 53582 to 285575 the declines were broadbased across states and were led by new york georgia and michigan california saw an increase but the figures may been impacted by severe flooding in the state