A disturbing employment trend is hiding beneath the latest strong job numbers

The average duration of unemployment for jobless workers rose above 27 weeks in October, marking the longest stretch outside the pandemic era in roughly a decade, even as headline payroll figures remained strong. The milestone signals that displaced workers are taking far longer to find new roles, a trend masked by resilient overall hiring numbers. The development matters because prolonged joblessness can erode workers' skills and spending power, and it complicates the picture for policymakers assessing labor market health. Economists and Federal Reserve officials will be watching whether the lengthening spells persist in coming months, alongside quit rates and hiring data, for signs of deeper deterioration beneath the strong headline job growth.