Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Georgia rose last week, contrasting with a broader national decline in new claims, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Thursday.

For the week ending September 13, new jobless claims in Georgia increased to 4,489. This marks an rise of 293 claims from the 4,196 reported the previous week, indicating a slight uptick in layoffs across the state. New jobless claims are often seen as a proxy for layoffs.

Nationally, unemployment claims saw a significant drop. U.S. jobless claims fell by 33,000 to a seasonally adjusted 231,000 last week, down from 264,000 the week prior. This national decrease suggests an overall tightening labor market in most parts of the country.

The Labor Department’s report also highlighted varied trends among other states. South Carolina experienced the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with filings jumping by 60.6%. Conversely, North Dakota saw the most substantial percentage drop in new claims, which fell by 70.9%.