PANews reported on January 22 that, according to Jinshi News, the number of initial jobless claims in the United States remained largely unchanged last week, staying at a low level compared to the previous volatile holiday season. According to data released by the U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday, initial jobless claims increased by 1,000 to 200,000 in the week ending January 17. Continuing jobless claims fell to 1.85 million last week, the lowest level since November. Initial jobless claims typically fluctuate in the last few weeks of the year, which is normal during the holiday season. However, the latest weekly data shows that the current labor market is characterized by limited layoffs.