Jobless claims jump in latest week

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits jumped by 15,000 last week, the government reported on Thursday, adding to signs of a weakening labor market.

Initial claims for state unemployment insurance benefits climbed to a seasonally adjusted 444,000 in the week ended August 30 from a revised 429,000 in the prior week, the Labor Department said. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast 425,000 claims, the same as the previously reported count for the prior week.

A Labor Department official said there were no special factors influencing the latest claims data. The official said that in coming weeks there will be an impact on claims because of workers who were displaced by a hurricane that hit southeastern states last week but said it was not a factor in last week's figures.

The number of continued claims -- people remaining on benefit rolls after drawing an initial week of aid -- rose 6,000 to 3.44 million in the week ended August 23, the latest period for which the data was available. That was the highest reading since November 2003.

(Reporting by Glenn Somerville; Editing by Andrea Ricci)