New claims for unemployment benefits fell last week to a 2 1/2-year low, Reuters reported.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, initial claims for state jobless benefits were down to a seasonally adjusted 383,000, a decrease of 36,000 and the lowest since July 2008.

Despite January’s disappointing jobs number – the economy added a mere 36,000 jobs last month – the latest unemployment benefits data indicate that the labor market is gaining momentum.

“Anecdotally, we do hear that there is some improvement on the jobs front, and this is another indication of that,” said Tim Ghriskey, chief investment officer at Bedford Hills, N.Y.-based Solaris Asset Management LLC.

The number of jobless claims last week was expected to drop to 410,000, according to economists polled by Reuters. The prior week’s number was revised up to 419,000, from the previously reported 415,000.