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U.S. Jobless Claims Tick Up to 210,000, Pointing to a Steady Labor Market

Rising inflation pressures keep the Fed cautious on rate cuts.

A now hiring sign sits on the side of the road in Garland, Texas, Monday, March 23, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Signage for a job fair is seen on 5th Avenue after the release of the jobs report in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., September 3, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 15: U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with White House Border Czar Tom Homan during a ceremony for the presentation of the Mexican Border Defense Medal in the Oval Office of the White House on December 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. During the ceremony, Trump recognized the first 13 service members to receive the recently established Mexican Border Defense Medal (MBDM), which recognizes service members supporting Customs and Border Protection on the U.S.-Mexico border. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Overview

  • Initial applications for unemployment benefits rose by 5,000 to 210,000 for the week ended March 21, according to the Labor Department.
  • Continuing claims, which track people receiving benefits after the first week, fell by 32,000 to 1.819 million for the week ended March 14.
  • Claims have stayed in a narrow 201,000 to 230,000 range this year, signaling low levels of layoffs.
  • The Federal Reserve has held its benchmark rate at 3.50% to 3.75% as oil prices have jumped more than 30% since late February, raising the risk of faster inflation.
  • Economists say higher import tariffs and tighter immigration policy are weighing on hiring, with private payrolls averaging about 18,000 jobs a month in the three months through February.