The number of Americans filing new applications for jobless benefits unexpectedly fell last week, suggesting employers may be holding on to workers despite other indications of a cooling labor market.

The US Department of Labour (DOL) reported on Thursday that the number of US citizens submitting new applications for unemployment insurance fell to 227K for the week ending July 5. The latest print fell short of initial estimates and the revised figure from the previous week, which stood at 232K after being adjusted from 233K.

Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Massachusetts rose last week compared with the week prior, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday. New jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, increased to 7,115 in the week ending July 5, up from 6,096 the week before, the Labor Department said.

Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Texas dropped last week compared with the week prior, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday. New jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, fell to 15,134 in the week ending July 5,