WASHINGTON -- The number of workers applying for state unemployment aid increased last week to the highest level in six weeks, the government said today.

The number of initial jobless claims rose by 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 403,000 for the week ended July 6, the Labor Department said.

The number of workers remaining on state unemployment benefits for the week ended June 29, the most recent week these data were available, fell by 33,000 to a seasonally adjusted 3.6 million.