WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — The number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits fell slightly in early July, reflecting an extremely low level of layoffs that has become the norm as an economic recovery stretches into its ninth year.

Initial jobless claims in the period running from July 1 to July 8 dropped by 3,000 to a seasonally adjusted 247,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. Initial claims count people who apply for benefits after losing their jobs.