US initial jobless claims rose by 25,000 in the week ended Jan. 20 to a total of 214,000, the US Department of Labor reported today. The previous week’s level was revised upward by 2,000.

However, The Associated Press reported layoffs remained at historically low levels despite elevated interest rates and a flurry of job cuts in the media and technology sectors.

The four-week moving average of initial claims dropped by 1,500 in the latest week to a level of 202,250. The previous week’s average was revised upward by 500.