WASHINGTON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, hitting near a 49-year low in a sign the job market remains strong. REUTERS/Monica Almeida Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell by 3,000 to a seasonally adjusted level of 201,000 for the week ended Sept. 15, the Labor Department said on Thursday. That is the lowest level since November 1969. Job openings hit an all-time high of 6.9 million in July.