New Delhi, May 29 -- The US Labor Department said on Thursday applications for jobless benefits rose last week but workers broadly remain secure in their jobs despite economic uncertainty.

Official data showed jobless benefits applications surged by 14,000 to 240,000 in the week ended May 24.

For the week of May 17, the total number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits rose by 26,000 to 1.92 million.

In April, the US employers added a strong 177,000 jobs and the unemployment rate stood at a healthy 4.2%.

Separately, the government said on Thursday that the US economy contracted 0.2% in the first quarter of 2025, a slight upgrade from its first estimate.

The economic growth was slowed by a rise in imports as companies in the U...