The Labor Department reported that 24,000 more people sought jobless benefits last week, bringing the total to a seasonally adjusted 329,000. The increase most likely reflected temporary layoffs in the week before Easter.

The four-week average of applications, a less volatile number, rose 4,750 to 316,750. The four-week average fell two weeks ago to its lowest level since October 2007, two months before the recession began.

Applications can be volatile around Easter, because many school systems temporarily lay off bus drivers, cafeteria workers and other employees during spring break. Some of those workers file for unemployment benefits. Because the timing of Easter shifts each year, it can be difficult for the government to seasonally adjust for the holiday. Last year, Easter fell on March 31; this year on April 20.

“The underlying trend in claims is falling, albeit slowly,” Mr. Shepherdson said. “When the economy picks up, companies hold back on firings before they start increasing hiring, so a sustained drop in claims would be a clearly positive sign” for hiring.