According to the Labor Department, claims for unemployment benefits fell by 15,000 last week. The four week average also fell by 4,000. Applications for benefits have reduced by 14 percent this year. The report is indicative that layoffs are occurring less frequently at companies, though the pace of hiring remains sluggish; resulting in unimpressive net job growth.
See "Weekly applications for US unemployment benefits drop to 6-year low of 320K as layoffs ease", The Washington Post, August 15, 2013