(Bloomberg) — More Americans than forecast filed applications for unemployment benefits last week, a sign of lingering holiday turnover.

Jobless claims decreased by 10,000 to 307,000 in the week ended Jan. 17, from a revised 317,000 in the prior period, a Labor Department report showed on Thursday in Washington. The median forecast of 52 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a decline to 300,000.

Holiday staffing needs create swings in employment, making it difficult for the government to seasonally adjust its weekly data this time of year. Employment is likely to keep growing as the world's largest economy shows signs it's sustaining momentum amid a global slowdown.

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