WASHINGTON – The number of laid-off workers receiving unemployment benefits has jumped to an all-time high near 5 million, while weekly new jobless claims remain well above 600,000.
Both figures were worse than expected and new projections from the Federal Reserve show unemployment rising for the rest of this year.
The Labor Department reported yesterday that the number of people receiving regular unemployment benefits rose 170,000 to 4.99 million for the week ending Feb. 7.