US jobless benefits claims rise in late April

New claims for US jobless benefits rose for the second straight week in late April but continued a record stretch of low levels, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

The figures underscored the tightening US labor market, where unemployment currently sits at 4.5 percent and companies are reporting trouble finding workers to fill positions, even for lower skilled jobs.

For the week ended April 22, new applications for unemployment insurance rose 14,000 from the prior week to 257,000, seasonally adjusted. Analysts had expected the level to remain virtually unchanged.

The Labor Department's weekly figure has remained below 300,000 claims for 112 consecutive weeks, the longest streak since 1970. The less volatile four-week average fell to 242,250, its lowest level since February.