Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Massachusetts 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 8,833 in the week ending December 16, up from 7,874 the week before, the Labor Department said.

U.S. unemployment claims rose to 205,000 last week, up 2,000 claims from 203,000 the week prior on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Oklahoma saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims jumping by 71.3%. Vermont, meanwhile, saw the largest percentage drop in new claims, with claims dropping by 34%.

The USA TODAY Network 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 The Milford Daily News: Unemployment claims in Massachusetts increased last week