“Every employment insurance agency, if you ask them, will say it’s, you know, their busiest month,” said Michele Evermore at the Century Foundation, who specializes in unemployment insurance. “The industries that you see decline in January are seasonal, holiday-related, travel-related, retail and construction and outdoor stuff.”

Jobless claims applications rose modestly, but the total number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits rose to their highest level in three years.

Jobless claims applications ticked up modestly last week, but the total number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits rose to their highest level in more than three years.