The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits rose marginally last week, but Hurricane Helene's rampage in the U.S. Southeast and strikes at Boeing and ports could distort the labor market picture in the near term.

The number of people filing for weekly unemployment benefits for the first time dipped to a seasonally adjusted 218,000, its lowest number since May as the country's workforce numbers appear to hold steady.

The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, suggesting job growth picked up in September. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 12,

The Labor Department reported on Thursday that jobless claims increased by 6,000 to 225,000 for the week ending September 28.

In the week through Sept. 28, there were 225,000 initial jobless claims, compared economists expectations of 220,000 initial claims.

Applications for US unemployment benefits rose slightly to a level that is consistent with limited number of layoffs.