According to CoinMeta, the U.S. Department of Labor stated on Thursday that as of the week ending October 3, the number of first-time applicants for state unemployment benefits in the United States decreased by 2,000 after seasonal adjustment, to 197,000, indicating that despite a significant slowdown in employment growth in September, the labor market remains stable. The number of initial unemployment benefit claims has remained near its lowest level in 57 years for four consecutive weeks, which economists say is consistent with a labor market situation characterized by "low hiring and low layoffs." In September, non-farm jobs only increased by 29,000, and weak hiring, along with tighter retirement and immigration policies, led to a reduction in the labor force, limiting employment growth. The number of continued unemployment benefits claims increased by 17,000, to 1.716 million. Although it is still at a relatively low level, the slow pace of hiring means that some unemployed individuals are unable to find work for an extended period. The median duration of unemployment in September was 11.5 weeks, near a four-and-a-half-year high.