Nearly 3 million Americans filed for unemployment last week, report

Nearly 3 million Americans filed jobless claims last week, bringing the two-month total to more than 36 million, the Labor Department reported Thursday. 

The total number of Americans filing for unemployment insurance remains at a record high. However, the weekly numbers have been dropping relative to the initial heights seen in March. This week's number was also lower than some analysts had projected. 

"Employers are likely poised to bring people back, but right now we're in a holding pattern," said Keith Hall, a top Bush administration economist told the Wall Street Journal. 

Several states have begin the uphill battle of cautiously reopening their local economies, as coronavirus rates slowly taper off. 

Last week, the Labor Department officially registered the country's April unemployment rate at 14.7%, those some analysts say the percentage could be closer to 25%.

On Wednesday, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Jerome Powell warned that further economic slump is entirely possible if Congress does not continue pumping stimulus money into the American economy.