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Private sector payrolls decreased by 32,000 after a revised 3,000 decline a month earlier, according to ADP Research data released Oct. 1.

Many federal operations will pause and nonessential employees will be furloughed or fired if lawmakers can’t reach an agreement by the time the current fiscal year ends on Sept. 30.

The decline unwinds a large jump in the prior week, when initial claims rose to the highest level in nearly four years. That period included Labor Day, when the data can be more volatile.

Unemployment rates were higher in more than three-quarters of metropolitan areas in the U.S. last month compared with a year ago.

WASHINGTON — The number of Americans signing up for unemployment benefits fell slightly last week, another sign that the labor market remains strong and most workers enjoy job security.

WASHINGTON — The number of people seeking unemployment benefits in the U.S. reached a four-month low for the week of Jan. 8-14.

The U.S. job market remains healthy as fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, despite the Federal Reserve’s rapid interest rate hikes this year intended to bring down inflation and tighten the labor market.

U.S. businesses reported strong hiring and wage increases in October although the unemployment rate climbed, offering a mixed picture as Federal Reserve officials debate how long to extend their campaign to curb elevated inflation.

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week but remained at historically low levels, suggesting that the job market remains strong.

A record 4.5 million American workers quit their jobs in November, a sign of confidence and more evidence that the U.S. job market is bouncing back strongly from last year’s coronavirus recession.