U.S. Initial Jobless Claims Edge Up But Hold Near Pandemic Low Jul 08 2021, 7:35 PM July 08 2021, 6:07 PM July 08 2021, 7:35 PM (Bloomberg) -- Applications for U.S. state unemployment insurance edged up last week, though remained near a pandemic low, as the labor market grinds its way toward a full recovery. (Bloomberg) -- Applications for U.S. state unemployment insurance edged up last week, though remained near a pandemic low, as the labor market grinds its way toward a full recovery. Initial claims in regular state programs increased by 2,000 to 373,000 in the week ended July 3, Labor Department data showed Thursday. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for 350,000 new applications.