The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment last week moved above 300,000 for the first time in nearly three months. 

The U.S. Labor Department says applications rose 21,000 to 313,000. Applications have been under 300,000 for 10 straight weeks. Unemployment has fallen to 5.8 percent, down from 7.2 percent a year ago, and marking a six year low.

Of the civilian population of Latinos, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 25 million are employed with a 66.5 percent participation rate. That represents over 14 million men employed and over 10 million women, with 5.1 percent unemployed and 7.0 percent of women unemployed. For young people between the ages 16-19, 20 percent are still unemployed.

Economy watchers say the raise is not likely to raise concerns about the broader health of the job market, as many are seasonal layoffs because of cold weather such as construction work and recreation industries. Employers added an average of 229,00 jobs a month this year, making 2014 the strongest hiring year since 1999.

Overall, unemployment benefit applications continue to below figures where they were a year ago, with new applicants reaching 279,000 last month.

The highest insured unemployment rates were in Alaska (3.6), Puerto Rico (3.2), New Jersey (2.8), California (2.3), Connecticut (2.3), Nevada (2.3), the Virgin Islands (2.3), Pennsylvania (2.2), Massachusetts (2.1), and Oregon (2.0).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending November 15 were in Minnesota (+2,904), Montana (+1,614), Wisconsin (+1,214), New York (+1,192), and Colorado (+1,131), while the largest decreases were in California (- 17,588), New Jersey (-2,849), Pennsylvania (-1,645), Oregon (-1,357), and Massachusetts (-1,284), according to the U.S. Labor Department.

Estimates are that nearly 9 million Americans are officially unemployed compared to 7.6 million before the recession. Only a third of those are receiving unemployment benefits at 2.3 million. The banking crisis contributed to job losses of 10 million.

The jobs gains, however, don't represent wage increases. Average hourly pay rose 3 cents in October, just 2 percent above the average wage a year ago, and barely ahead of 1.7 percent inflation rate, according to The Associated Press.