Initial jobless claims take big leap

First-time jobless claims took a big jump last week as the labor market continues struggles to make strides amid a slowing economy. 

Those filing for unemployment benefits rose by 15,000 to a seasonally adjusted 382,000, the highest level in two months, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

The figure is above the 375,000 economists argue reflects a healthier job market and a hiring pace by employers that is fast enough to bring down the unemployment rate, which now sits at 8.3 percent.  

About 9,000 of the job losses can be attributed to Hurricane Isaac, which affected workers across nine states, according to the agency. 

The four-week moving average, a better indicator of the job market's trend, increased by 3,250 to 375,000.

Odds are that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will announce later Thursday that the central bank will take action to help boost economy growth as the labor market grinds out inadequate numbers. 

The weekly claims report follows a disappointed August jobs report released last week that showed only 96,000 jobs were created last month, with the manufacturing sector losing 15,000 jobs. The unemployment rate dropped to 8.1 percent but mostly because potential workers stopped their search for jobs. 

Unemployment has remained stuck above 8 percent since early 2009 and is a major hurdle to President Obama's reelection efforts. 

No president since Franklin Roosevelt has been reelected with a jobless rate above 8 percent. 

Still, despite the labor market's struggles, President Obama's poll numbers have suffered as might be expected, even as the presidential campaign focuses on the economy, The Hill's Ian Swanson reported Wednesday.