WASHINGTON (Reuters] – Unexpectedly, the number of Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits rose last week. It is believed that a winter wave COVID-19 infected business was disrupting activity and could have impacted job growth.

The Labor Department reported that initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose to 286,000 in week ending January 15, a seasonal adjustment of 231,000 from the previous week. Reuters polled economists to forecast that 220,000 applicants would apply for state unemployment benefits in the current week.

According to Reuters, the United States reports an average 732,245 coronavirus infection per day. This is due to a spike in Omicron-related infections. However, there are signs that some cases may be subsiding in certain regions, such as New York, which has been hard hit.

As infections fall, economists predict that claims will trend lower. The record-breaking 6.149 million claims in April 2020 have seen their numbers plummet. Despite this, conditions in the labor market are improving.

There are 10.6 millions job opportunities for employers at the end November, which means that they have a desperate need to hire workers. A 22-month low unemployment rate of 3.9% is an indicator that the labor force is close to full employment.

This data included the claims period in which government survey businesses during January’s nonfarm employment report. The level of claims is higher than mid-December.

Payroll gains could remain moderate due to worker shortages or disruptions from Omicron, such as absenteeisms. December saw the economy add 199,000 jobs, its lowest level in over a year. About 2.2 million more people are employed than before the pandemic.