Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Kansas rose last week compared with the week prior, the U.S. Department of Labor said Aug. 21.

New jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, increased to 1,199 in the week ending Aug. 16, up from 1,175 the week before, the Labor Department said.

U.S. unemployment claims rose to 235,000 last week, up 11,000 claims from 224,000 the week prior on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Kentucky saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims jumping by 180.0%. Wyoming, meanwhile, saw the largest percentage drop in new claims, with claims dropping by 33.9%.

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 insur

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