Labor Department marks low layoffs milestone

Data: U.S. Department of Labor; Chart: Courtenay Brown/AxiosNew applications for unemployment benefits have stayed below 200,000 in a stretch rarely seen in modern history.Jobless claims fell by 2,000, to 197,000, last week, the Labor Department said Thursday morning.Why it matters: It points to a remarkable stability on the "firing" side of the labor market, even amid a slower pace of hiring on the other side of the equation.That is helping to keep unemployment low, but it also masks a growing divide between Americans who have jobs and those struggling to find one.What they're saying: "New jo