Still, a total of 18.9 million people are continuing to collect jobless benefits, up from 18.2 million in the previous week.

The four-week average of claims, which smooths out weekly variations, dropped to 746,000, the lowest since late November.

There are many theories, including unemployment benefits being too high, a skills mismatch and low wages.

It’s evidence fewer employers are cutting jobs amid a decline in confirmed coronavirus cases and signs of an improving economy.

If passed, eligible Americans will receive $300 weekly payments until Sept. 6. The bill also includes a tax break for unemployment benefits.

That’s despite a drop in confirmed viral infections and evidence that the overall economy is improving.

These persistently high jobless claims indicate a lot of labor market volatility.

The headline is that people who’ve turned down work for health and safety reasons can be eligible for federal aid.

It’s the lowest figure since late November for weekly jobless claims, but the labor market isn’t making much progress.

Throughout the pandemic, federal unemployment benefits have had expiration dates. Some economists think there’s a better way.