Continuing jobless claims fall for first time in 20 weeks, new claims dip to 621,000

WASHINGTON – The number of people on the unemployment insurance rolls fell slightly for the first time in 20 weeks, while the tally of new jobless claims also dipped, the government said Thursday. The Labor Department report provides a glimmer of good news for job seekers, though both drops were small and the figures remain significantly above the levels associated with a healthy economy. The department also said U.S. workers were more productive in the first quarter than previously estimated, as rapid layoffs forced companies to make do with fewer employees. The tally of first-time claims for jobless benefits declined to a seasonally adjusted 621,000 from the previous week’s revised figure…

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