In the week ending October 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 287,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week’s revised level, the U.S. Department of Labor reported.

In a related report, Bloomberg reported the number of people seeking jobless benefits at state employment agencies averaged 287,750 in the four weeks ended Oct. 4, an eight-year low.

Bloomberg reported first-time claims for jobless benefits were the lowest since February 2006.

To view the full U.S. Labor Department release, click here.