The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell to the lowest level in six months last week as layoffs remain at relatively healthy levels. The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claim applications fell by 4,000 to 217,000 for the week of Nov. 9. That’s less than the 225,000 analysts forecast.

The number of Americans filing for jobless benefits falls to lowest level in 6 months as layoffs remain at healthy level

Applications for US unemployment benefits fell to the lowest level since May last week, signaling there is still a healthy demand for workers after recent storms and strikes.

The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell last week, suggesting the labor market continued to chug along and that the abrupt slowdown in job growth in October was an aberration.

The number of people filing for unemployment dropped to its lowest level in six months, according to the Labor Department. Jobless claims fell by 4,000 to 217,000, while the four-week average fell from 6,