For the week ending April 5, the seasonally adjusted initial claims fell 32,000 from the previous week to 300,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. The last time the number dipped below 300,000 was in May 12, 2007.
Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had estimated a new claims total of between 310,000 to 330,000.
The 4-week moving average, which is a less volatile indication of the job market outlook, fell 4,750 to 316,250.
The previous week's level was revised up by 6,000 from 326,000 to 332,000.
The Labor Department said "there were no special factors impacting this week's initial claims." But fewer layoffs and the improving weather that triggers new economic activities helped push down unemployment claims.
The jobless claims report is the latest to show improving trends in the U.S. labor market.
On Tuesday, the Labor Department reported that the job openings in February rose 7.7% from January. The rate of private-sector job openings reached its highest level since the recovery started in mid-2009. Hires also rose 1.6% from January.
Last week, the government reported the economy gained 192,000 jobs in March while January and February job gains were 37,000 higher than previously estimated. The unemployment rate held steady at 6.7%.
"We need to see a few more weeks' numbers before we can be sure where the trend now stands," Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, wrote in a client note. "Our core view is that claims are drifting gently downwards."
Contributing: The Associated Press
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