The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell slightly last week to 793,000, evidence that job cuts remain high despite a substantial decline in new confirmed viral infections. Last week’s total declined from 812,000 the previous week, the Labor Department said Thursday . That figure was revised higher from the previously reported 779,000. The numbers point to a still-elevated number of layoffs. Before the virus erupted in the United States in March, weekly applications for jobless aid had never topped 700,000, even during the Great Recession. Continuing unemployment claims Weekly national continued jobless claims Jan. 1 2000 Jan. 1 2005 Jan. 1 2010 Jan. 1 2015 Jan. 1 2020 0510152025 million cont_claims_sa Recession Recession Financial assistance claims shown are to regular state programs. Source: U.S. Department of Labor Graphic: Phil Holm & Larry Fenn The job market had shown tentative improvement last summer but then slowed […]