The number of Americans losing their jobs each week fell slightly in late October and remained near the lowest level in decades.
Initial jobless claims, a method of measuring layoffs, fell by 2,000 to 214,000 in the seven days ended Oct. 27, slightly higher than the 212,000 forecast of economists.
The more stable monthly average of new claims rose by 1,750 to 213,750.
New jobless claims have totaled fewer than 220,000 since July, an incredibly low number that reflects the healthiest labour market at least since the late 1990s and perhaps as far back as the early 1970s.
Last month, the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 3.7% and plumbed the lowest level since 1969. Numbers for October are due out Friday.
The number of people already collecting unemployment benefits, meanwhile, declined by 7,000 to 1.63 million. These so-called continuing claims are at the lowest level since July 28, 1973.
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