Those requesting new jobless benefits rose for the first time in more than a month.

The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of newly laid-off workers applying for benefits jumped by 12,000 last week. That brings the total number to 465,000 - the first increase in five weeks.

The number suggest that jobs remain scarce and that some companies are still cutting workers.

"What's becoming increasing clear is that this isn't a normal recovery," Dan Greenhaus, chief economic strategist at Miller Tabak, said. "There's little we can do to create jobs until demand returns, and demand isn't returning."

Meanwhile, some big name companies are still cutting jobs. Cessna Aircraft announced this week it will lay off 700 workers on top of the 8,000 jobs the company has already cut since 2008.