According to Jin Shi, the number of initial jobless claims in the United States decreased more than expected last week, aligning with the gradual cooling of the employment market. The U.S. Department of Labor announced on Thursday that for the week ending December 14, the number of initial jobless claims fell by 22,000, seasonally adjusted to 220,000 (Reuters' survey forecast was 230,000). The initial jobless claims number has entered a period of volatility, which may make it difficult for people to have a clear understanding of the labor market. A range of indicators, including the number of unemployment benefit claimants and job vacancies, indicate that the employment situation is much looser than before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the labor market is slowing down in an orderly manner.