The number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits last week rose slightly to 230,000, but there was still no sign of widespread layoffs even as the jobs market cooled. New claims increased by 2,

Applications for US unemployment benefits ticked up for the first time in three weeks, consistent with a gradual slowdown in hiring.Initial claims increased by 2,000 to 230,000 in the week ended Sept.

The number of people receiving benefits after an initial week of aid, a proxy for hiring, increased 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 1.850 million during the week ending Aug. 31, the claims report showed. The so-called continuing claims could decrease in the coming weeks after schools in Minnesota reopened for the new school year in September.