The number of workers filing new claims for jobless benefits rose more than expected last week, pushed up by layoffs in seasonal industries, according to a government report on Thursday that indicated improvement in the labor market would be only gradual.

Initial claims for state unemployment insurance rose 17,000 to a seasonally adjusted 474,000 in the week ended December 5 from 457,000 in the prior week, the Labor Department said. Claims previously had declined for five straight weeks.

Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast claims climbing but only to 460,000. A Labor Department economist said claims had been bumped up by seasonal industries laying people off and by applications that had been held back during the Thanksgiving holiday week.