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.

Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Utah 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 1,343 in the week ending July 5, up from 1,240 the week before, the Labor Department said.