2021.02.0412:35:00UTC+00U.S. Weekly Jobless Claims Drop To 779,000

With the more closely watched monthly jobs report looming, the Labor Department released a report on Thursday showing a decrease in first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits in the week ended January 30th.

The report said initial jobless claims fell to 779,000, a decrease of 33,000 from the previous week's revised level of 812,000.

Economists had expected jobless claims to edge down to 830,000 from the 847,000 originally reported for the previous week.

On Friday, the Labor Department is scheduled to release its more closely watched report on the employment situation in the month of January.