Fewer people looking for unemployment benefits

The number of people in the United States seeking unemployment benefits dropped substantially last week.

Weekly applications for jobless help fell 20,000 to a seasonally adjusted 268,000, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor.

That drop shows the job market remains strong despite a slowdown in manufacturing and construction. When the economy is adding jobs, as it is now, applications for unemployment aid generally fall below 300,000 per month.