FEWER people applied for unemployment aid in the United States last week, the third drop in four weeks and evidence that the job market is showing signs of life.

If the decline continues, it could signal more hiring in the near future. The report comes after the US Labor Department said last week that private employers added the most jobs in six months in October.

The department yesterday said initial claims for jobless aid fell by 24,000 to a seasonally adjusted 435,000. Many economists expected a smaller drop.

The four-week average of claims, a less volatile measure, fell 10,000 to 446,500. That's the lowest average level since the week that ended September 13, 2008.