Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Texas 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 17,843 in the week ending February 7, up from 15,658 the week before, the Labor Department said.
U.S. unemployment claims dropped to 227,000 last week, down 5,000 claims from 232,000 the week prior on a seasonally adjusted basis.
Virginia saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims jumping by 68.8%. Missouri, meanwhile, saw the largest percentage drop in new claims, with claims dropping by 43.5%.
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 insurance claims report.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Unemployment claims in Texas increased last week