US Jobless Claims Unchanged at 213,000 as Layoffs Remain Low

Filings for unemployment benefits signal continued strength in the job market despite some high-profile layoffs.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits last week was unchanged from the previous week at 213,000, indicating that layoffs remain at historically low levels despite some recent high-profile job cuts. The Labor Department's data is seen as a proxy for U.S. layoffs and a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.

Why it matters

The steady jobless claims numbers suggest the labor market remains resilient, even as some major companies have announced layoffs recently. This data will be closely watched by the Federal Reserve as it considers future interest rate decisions.

The details

U.S. filings for jobless aid for the week ending Feb. 28 matched the previous week's 213,000, the Labor Department reported. Analysts had forecast 215,000 new benefit applications. While weekly layoffs have remained in a historically low range, a number of high-profile companies have announced job cuts recently, including UPS, Amazon, Dow, and the Washington Post.

  • The Labor Department reported the jobless claims data on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
  • The data covers the week ending February 28, 2026.

The players

U.S. Department of Labor

The federal agency that collects and reports data on employment, unemployment, and other labor market indicators.

FactSet

A financial data and software company that provides research and analysis to the investment community.

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What’s next

The Labor Department will release its February jobs report on Friday, March 6, 2026, which will provide further insight into the health of the U.S. labor market.

The takeaway

The steady jobless claims data suggests the U.S. job market remains resilient, even as some high-profile companies have announced layoffs. This will be closely watched by the Federal Reserve as it considers future interest rate decisions.