The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell by 1,000 to 197,000 in the week ended September 26, below expectations of 200,000 and down from a revised 198,000, according to the US Department of Labor. The figure reached its lowest level since the 60-year low of 189,000 recorded in mid-July, pointing to continued resilience in the US labor market. Continuing claims fell by 11,000 to 1.701 million in the week ended September 19, the lowest since April 2023. Initial claims from federal employees rose by 7 to 369, remaining well below historical levels despite increased attention on the administration’s efforts to shrink the public-sector workforce.