A 14-year low for unemployment applications was reached in July, but this week applications rose by 12,000. Still experts claim that the rate of applications remains around pre-recession levels. With only 142,000 jobs added this month, it is the first time in the past six months that the number of jobs added by employers was not over 200,000.
See "Applications for U.S. Unemployment Rise 12K to 239K", Christopher S. Rugaber, ABC News, September 25, 2014