U.S. filings for unemployment benefits decreased for the third time in four weeks, hovering near an almost five-decade low that reflects a robust job market.

WASHINGTON — The pace of hiring in the United States quickened in August, and wages grew at their fastest pace in nine years — evidence that employers remain confident despite the Trump administration’s ongoing conflicts with its trading partners.

U.S. filings for unemployment benefits fell for a third week and remain near the lowest in almost five decades, indicating a tight job market, Labor Department figures showed Aug. 23.