WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell last week, but more out of work people are struggling to find new opportunities amid weak hiring.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 220,000 for the week ended November 15, the Labor Department said on Thursday. The Labor Department resumed publishing the weekly claims report following the end of a 43-day government shutdown. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 230,000 claims for the latest week.

The claims data covered the period during which the government would have surveyed business establishments for November nonfarm payrolls.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said on Wednesday that the data collection period for the establishmen

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