US weekly jobless claims held steady at 229,000, signaling a stable labor market despite rising economic uncertainty from tariffs. Hiring slows as businesses remain cautious, with unemployment projected to rise moderately by year-end.

Initial jobless claims held steady at 229,000 in the week ending May 10, the Labor Department said Thursday. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had estimated new claims would fall by 2,000 to 226,

Initial jobless claims for week ended May 10 were 229 K vs. 229K consensus and 229K prior (revised from 228K). The four-week moving average was 230,500, an increase of 3,250 from the previous week's revised average  of 227,