12:15 PM EST, 12/05/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Weekly applications for unemployment insurance in the US rose, while continuing claims declined, the Department of Labor said Thursday.

The seasonally adjusted number of initial claims increased by 9,000 to 224,000 in the week ended Nov. 30, according to the Department of Labor. The consensus was for a 215,000 level in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg. The previous week's reading was revised up by 2,000 to 215,000.

The four-week moving average came in at 218,250, up by 750 from the prior average that was revised up by 500. Weekly unadjusted claims dropped by 34,967 to 210,166.

Seasonally adjusted continuing claims totaled 1.87 million for the week ended Nov. 23, trailing the Bloomberg consensus of about 1.9 million. Continuing claims fell by 25,000 from the previous week's level, which was revised down by 11,000. The four-week moving average came in at 1.88 million, decreasing by 3,250 from the prior week's downwardly revised average, according to the DOL.

California saw the highest increase in initial claims for the week ended Nov. 23, at 4,573, followed by Illinois with 2,814 and Pennsylvania with 2,785. The largest decrease was in New Jersey, where claims declined by 853, followed by Delaware and Hawaii.

On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is expected to report that the US economy added 215,000 nonfarm jobs in November, which would mark a sharp acceleration from a 12,000 gain posted for the month prior, according to a Bloomberg poll.

US-based employers cut 57,727 jobs last month, up 3.8% from October and rising 27% annually, according to a separate report released Thursday by Challenger Gray & Christmas. Among industries, the automotive sector lost the most number of jobs in November.

"November saw downstream cuts to automotive suppliers and parts manufacturers, as well as ongoing cuts in consumer and industrial manufacturing," Andrew Challenger, senior vice president of Challenger Gray & Christmas, said. "Technology also saw a high number of layoff announcements, as that sector continues to undergo significant changes."