Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Colorado 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 4,393 in the week ending December 6, up from 2,734 the week before, the Labor Department said.

U.S. unemployment claims rose to 236,000 last week, up 44,000 claims from 192,000 the week prior on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Georgia saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims jumping by 207.9%. Rhode Island, meanwhile, saw the largest percentage drop in new claims, with claims dropping by 13.1%.

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 unemployment ins

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