The US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance edged up to 237,250 last week, up 750 from the previous week’s unrevised average, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the US Department of Labor.

The four-week moving average decreases the volatility of the weekly numbers. Total initial claims for unemployment insurance for the week ended March 11 fell to 241,000, down 2,000 from the previous week’s unrevised level.

This marks 106 consecutive weeks of initial claims below 300,000, the longest streak since 1970.

No special factors affected this week’s initial claims.

Bloomberg reports employers, who are finding it difficult to lure more skilled and experienced workers at a time of steady sales growth, are reluctant to reduce headcounts. The report complements data last week showing above-average payroll growth in February and gradual wage gains. However, initial claims fell less than the median forecast in its survey of economists, which called for initial claims to rise to 240,000.