The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits last week rose to the highest level in six weeks.

It’s not clear if the increase is the results of holiday-season layoffs or a reflection on a deterioration in the labor market.

In the seven days ended Jan. 25, initial jobless claims jumped by 19,000 to a seasonally adjusted 348,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. Economists were expecting claims to edge up to 330,000.

This article originally appeared on MarketWatch.com.