First-time unemployment claims in Florida continued declining last week and hit a low for the year.

The U.S. Department of Labor issued a report Thursday that estimated 4,660 claims were filed in Florida during the week that ended March 4.

That was down from a revised count of 5,293 claims during the week that ended Feb. 25.

It also bucked a national increase.

An estimated 211,000 claims were filed nationally last week, which was a 10-week high and up 21,000 from the previous week.

The number of claims filed in Florida is similar to the pace before the COVID-19 caused massive economic disruption in early 2020. Florida had a 2.5 percent unemployment rate in December.

The state Department of Economic Opportunity will issue a January rate Monday.