First-time unemployment claims in Florida dipped for a third consecutive week.

The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday released a report that estimated 5,656 initial claims were filed in Florida during the week that ended Aug. 6, down from a revised count of 6,140 claims during the week that ended July 30.

The drop in Florida came as jobless claims nationally increased by 14,000 to 262,000.

During the past four weeks, Florida has averaged 6,639 initial claims.

It has averaged 5,648 claims a week since mid-January, with a peak of 7,858 claims during the week that ended July 16.

Florida had a June unemployment rate of 2.8 percent, representing 303,000 Floridians out of work from a workforce of 10.633 million.

The state Department of Economic Opportunity will release a July unemployment report on Aug. 19.