US initial jobless claims remained unchanged in the week ended April 13 from the previous week at 212,000, the US Department of Labor reported today. However, the previous week’s level was revised upward by 1,000.

The Associated Press noted that the labor market continues to defy efforts by the Federal Reserve to cool hiring and ease inflation.

Meanwhile, the four-week moving average of claims remained unchanged following an upward revision of the prior week’s average by 250 to a level of 214,500.