Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Georgia rose the last week of June, according to data released last Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor, bucking a national trend that saw a decrease in jobless claims across the United States.

The number of Georgians filing new claims for unemployment benefits, often viewed as a proxy for layoffs, climbed to 4,401 in the week ending June 28. This marks an increase from the 4,108 claims reported in the preceding week.

Conversely, the national picture showed a decline in unemployment applications. U.S. unemployment claims dropped to 233,000 last week, a decrease of 4,000 claims from the 237,000 reported the week prior on a seasonally adjusted basis.

The varied trends suggest differing dynamics within regional labor markets, with Georgia experiencing a slight uptick in initial jobless filings while the broader national data indicates continued easing in layoffs.