On Friday, the government will issue a December jobs report that economists expect will show hiring slowed for a sixth straight month.

Before the virus struck, applications typically numbered around 225,000 a week before shooting up to 6.9 million in early spring.

Nine months after the viral pandemic first paralyzed the economy, many employers are still slashing jobs.

The 853,000 new applications are evidence that some companies are cutting more jobs as new virus cases spiral higher.

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week to a still-high 712,000.

In 29 of 41 states that reported data, people in receipt of pandemic assistance benefits were being paid below the federal poverty line.

The Labor Department’s report Wednesday said jobless claims climbed from 748,000 the week before.

It’s the first increase in five weeks and a sign that the resurgent viral outbreak is likely slowing the economy.

The figures coincide with a sharp resurgence in confirmed viral infections to an all-time high above 120,000 a day.

Eight months after the pandemic flattened the economy, weekly jobless claims still point to a stream of layoffs.