Weekly jobless claims ticked higher by 206,000 from the previous week’s revised tally of 188,000, rising above the pandemic low as the economic recovery remains uneven.

Analysts surveyed by Refinitiv expected claims to total 200,000 for the week ended Dec. 11.

Continuing claims, which track the total number of unemployed workers collecting benefits, fell to 1.845 million, a pandemic low.

On Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, confirmed many Americans are deciding to remain home for reasons including fears about the omicron variant along with lack of childcare, and eldercare options.... Read More: FOX Business