Many more likely sought US jobless aid even as layoffs slow
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government is set to sketch its latest picture of the layoffs that have left tens of millions of people unemployed but have slowed as states increasingly allow businesses to reopen. Even with companies calling some laid-off employees back to work, millions more likely filed for unemployment benefits last week after nearly 39 million sought aid in the previous nine weeks as the coronavirus paralyzed the economy. The pace of layoffs has declined for seven straight weeks, a sign that the cratering of the job market may have bottomed out. By historical standards, though, the number of weekly applications remains enormous.