THE number of Americans who filed jobless claims last week has topped one million for the 13th week in a row.

Another 1.5 million people filed claims for state unemployment benefits last week, the US Department of Labor announced on Thursday.

The unemployment rate is down by 58,000 from the previous week's figures.

The week prior's level was revised up by 24,000 from 1,542,000 to 1,566,000.

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the most filings in one week was 695,000, 38 years ago.

"The COVID-19 virus continues to impact the number of initial claims and insured unemployment," the DOL statement read.

It added: "The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 14.1 percent for the week ending June 6, unchanged from the previous week's revised rate" – which was revised down by 0.3 from 14.4 to 14.1 percent.

The number of Americans receiving jobless aid decreased to 20.5million.

Workers claiming benefits under all programs for the week ending May 30 was 29.1million – down by 375,522 from the previous week.

Last year, during the comparable week, 1.5million workers claimed benefits in all programs.

Workers in the US have had hours slashed, been furloughed, or lost their jobs completely as many non-essential businesses around the country have had to shut their doors because of COVID-19.

As unemployment claims remain high, coronavirus cases across the Unites States are spiking up again after states started reopening and thousands protested George Floyd’s death in large gatherings.

Dr Anthony Fauci – the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases – warned Tuesday that the coronavirus pandemic is far from over.

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