WASHINGTON, DC — The number of US workers filing new claims for jobless benefits rose unexpectedly last week by a slight amount as the weak labor market struggled to stabilize, a government report showed.

Initial claims for state unemployment insurance benefits climbed 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 558,000 in the week ended August 8 from 554,000 the prior week, the Labor Department said.

The number of people collecting long-term unemployment benefits slipped by 141,000 to 6.20 million in the week ended Aug. 1, the lowest level since April 11.