Fewer Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week

Applications for unemployment benefits dropped by 9,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted figure of 282,000, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday.

The four-week average for filings fell 7,750 to 297,000, suggesting that employers are retaining workers. Over the past year, the average number of applications for aid have fallen 7 percent.

The dip in applications corresponds to continued growth in the nation’s job market. Each of the past 12 months saw U.S. employers add a minimum of 200,000 jobs. During that same time period, the unemployment period dropped from 6.7 percent to 5.5 percent, and average hourly wages increased 2 percent.

American companies added 295,000 jobs in February, according to The Associated Press.

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