The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits rose less than expected last week, suggesting labor market conditions continued to tighten.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 3,000 to 270,000 for the week ended August 1, the Labor Department said on Thursday.
Though job growth has slowed from last year's brisk pace, the labor market is approaching full employment.
Last week, the Federal Reserve upgraded its assessment of the jobs market, describing employment gains as "solid."
The Fed, which is expected to raise interest rates this year for the first time in nearly a decade, also said labor market slack had diminished "since early this year."