Initial filings for unemployment benefits in South Dakota rose last week compared with the week prior, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday.

New jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, increased to 362 in the week ending November 21, up from 294 the week before, the Labor Department said.

U.S. unemployment claims dropped to 216,000 last week, down 6,000 claims from 222,000 the week prior on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Arkansas saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims jumping by 93.8%. Virgin Islands, meanwhile, saw the largest percentage drop in new claims, with claims dropping by 88.6%.

USA TODAY Co. is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from the U.S. Department of Labor's weekly unemploym

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