The numbers: The number of people who applied for unemployment benefits in mid-April fell for the fifth week in a row to a nearly 50-year low of 192,000, a remarkably small level of layoffs that gives the economy a sturdy foundation on which it can continue to grow despite recent hiccups.

Jobless claims slipped by 5,000 to 192,000 in the seven days ended April 13, the government said Thursday. Economists polled by MarketWatch forecast a 204,000 reading.

New claims have totaled less than 200,000 for the second week in a row, a feat last accomplished in the fall of 1969, when Richard Nixon was in his first year as president.

Reduced layoffs, steady hiring and the lowest unemployment rate in half a century have produced the strongest labor market in decades and fueled a nearly record long economic expansion.

What happened: Jobless claims have fallen steadily in the past five weeks after a brief spike in February tied to seasonal changes in employment.

The four-week average of new jobless claims dropped by 6,000 to 201,250 — also the lowest mark since the fall of 1969. The monthly average is viewed as more stable since it smoothens out the weekly gyrations.

The number of people already collecting unemployment benefits, known as continuing claims, declined by 63,000 to 1.65 million. That’s also near a multi-decade low.

Read:Torrent of job offers, bigger salaries offer more proof U.S. labor market is still red-hot

Big picture: Diminished layoffs, steady hiring and the lowest unemployment rate in half a century have produced the strongest labor market in decades, fueling a long economic expansion that will turn 10 years old in June.

Read:Spring is here again — and that probably means a reinvigorated U.S. economy

The U.S. is expected to break the record for longest expansion ever in early summer thanks to a booming jobs market.

What they are saying?: “In a strong job market it’s more likely that someone laid off will transition to a new job” than file a claim,” said chief economist Scott Brown of Raymond James.