US initial jobless claims rose by 2,000 in the week ended Sept. 30 to a total of 207,000, the US Department of Labor reported today. The previous week’s level was revised upward by 1,000.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 210,000 claims for the latest week. While claims rose moderately last week, layoffs declined in September overall, pointing to still-tight labor market conditions at the end of the third quarter, the news agency reported.

Meanwhile, the four-week moving average of claims rose by 2,500 to a total of 208,750. The previous week’s average was revised upward by 250.