Weekly jobless claims stay at four-year low WASHINGTON - The number of people seeking unemployment aid was unchanged last week and the four-week average of applications fell to its lowest point in four years. The figures are the latest evidence that the job market is improving. The Labor Department says 351,000 laid-off workers sought unemployment aid last week. That's the fewest people seeking unemployment aid since March 2008, just a few months into the recession. The four-week average, which smooths week-to-week fluctuations, dropped for the sixth straight week to 359,000. That's also the lowest since March 2008. Job openings: Here's how to get one yourself Historic low employment for young Americans Applications have fallen steadily since last October. The average has declined 13.5 percent since then.