More people applied for unemployment benefits last week, after applications had dropped to the lowest level in nearly three years in the previous week.

The improvement reflected the fact that government offices had been closed the previous week in many states because of severe winter weather, preventing people from applying for benefits.

Below are the states with the largest declines and increases in unemployment benefit applications for the week of Feb. 5. The state figures are one week behind the national figures.

States with largest declines:

• Florida: down 4,542 due to fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, services, manufacturing and agricultural sectors.

• Texas: down 3,657 due to fewer applications for benefits because of inclement weather throughout the state, as well as fewer layoffs in insurance, real estate, trade, services and manufacturing industries.

• South Carolina: down 2,780 due to fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.

• Tennessee: down 2,535 due to fewer layoffs in construction, trade and services.

• Georgia: down 1,718 due to fewer layoffs in the service and manufacturing industries.

• New York: down 1,718 due to fewer layoffs in the construction, trade and transportation industries.

States with the largest increases:

• Michigan: up 2,693. The state offered no reason for the increase.

• North Carolina: up 1,222 due to more layoffs in the construction and furniture industries.