U.S. Jobless Claims Fall to 5-Year Low

もとの記事はここ。

レイオフの指標が先週、ここ5年間の間で最低のレベルになった。しかし、アメリカの雇用者はこの遅い景気回復期に雇用を増やすかどうかはわからない。

A measure of layoffs fell to its lowest level in more than five years last week, but it's unclear if U.S. employers are also boosting hiring during the slow economic recovery.

The number of Americans seeking initial jobless benefits, a proxy for layoffs, decreased by 18,000 to a seasonally adjusted 324,000 in the week ended April 27, the Labor Department said Thursday. That's the lowest level for claims since January 2008, just after the last recession started.

A drop in jobless claims is often accompanied by increased hiring, which would be a welcome development for the economy after March's disappointing payroll gain ignited fears of a spring slowdown.

But some economists say that while companies are no longer dismissing workers, they might not be adding many, either.