US Jobless Claims Steady, Labor Market Remains Resilient

Initial jobless claims in the United States held steady at 213,000 in the final week of February, unchanged from the previous week and slightly below expectations of 215,000. The figure remains well beneath the average of the past two years, underscoring continued labor market resilience. Meanwhile, continuing jobless claims—often viewed as a proxy for overall unemployment—rose by 46,000 to 1.868 million, exceeding forecasts of 1.85 million. The data suggest the job market remains stable, with limited layoffs even as hiring momentum slows. Claims filed by federal employees, closely watched amid concerns about potential government shutdowns, declined by 25 to a total of 529.