WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits has increased by the most in approximately three months last week, the U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday.

According to the department, initial claims for unemployment benefits for the week ending Aug. 16 rose by 11,000 to 235,000 -- the largest increase since late May.

The number of people receiving benefits after an initial week of aid increased by 30,000 to reach a seasonally adjusted total of 1.972 million during the week ending Aug. 9, said the report. This is the highest level since November 2021.

There has been noticeable deterioration in the labor market this year and mounting evidence that people are having difficulty finding jobs, ABC News reported. ■