WASHINGTON — The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose slightly last week, signaling a labor market that remains steady despite ongoing economic uncertainty.
New data from the U.S. Department of Labor for the week ending March 21 shows initial jobless claims increased by 5,000 to 210,000. The four-week moving average was 210,500, a decrease of 250 from the previous week.
At the same time, continuing claims fell to 1.82 million, the lowest level since May 2024.
The figures suggest layoffs remain relatively low and employers are largely holding onto workers.
For industries like electrical contracting and construction, the data reinforces what many contractors are already experiencing: a tight labor market with ongoing demand for skilled workers.
Despite small weekly fluctuations, unemployment levels remain historically low, particularly for skilled trades.
Even as some regions saw increases in claims — including Kentucky and Oklahoma — others, such as Missouri, California, and New York, reported notable declines, pointing to regional variation rather than a broad slowdown.
Read the full report here.
Tagged with economy, jobless claims