A jobs sign hangs above the entrance to the US Chamber of Commerce building in Washington, DC in this December 13, 2011 file photo. New claims for US unemployment benefits rose modestly last week but the overall trend showed fewer layoffs, government data released September 19, 2013 showed. Initial jobless claims totaled 309,000 in the week ending September 14, up by 15,000 from the prior week's revised 294,000 reading, the Labor Department said. The increase was less than analysts expected, with the average total claims estimate at 340,000.AFP PHOTO / Karen BLEIER / FILESKAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images