WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced nearly $100 million in green jobs training grants, as authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The grants will support job training programs to help dislocated workers and others, including veterans, women, African Americans and Latinos, find jobs in expanding green industries and related occupations. Approximately $28 million of the total funds will support projects in communities impacted by auto industry restructuring.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,201,214 grant to assist about 500 workers affected by layoffs at multiple companies in the construction and manufacturing industries in central and southeastern Texas.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,398,800 grant to assist about 1,000 workers affected by layoffs at Micron Technology Inc. in Boise, Idaho.

"Helping these workers access the employment and retraining services they need to secure family-supporting jobs is the right thing to do. It is also a wise investment in the future of Idaho and the nation as a whole," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the "Explore and Recommend" phase of its "Tools for America's Job Seekers Challenge." A first of its kind effort, the challenge brings together a plethora of online resources for job seekers. It also allows them, and workforce professionals, to vote for their favorite job search and career sites.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $1,238,564 National Emergency Grant award to assist clean-up and recovery efforts after the October severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that affected much of Arkansas.

"These resources will help Arkansas recover from severe weather events that impacted the state, while helping dislocated workers get jobs as part of the clean-up and recovery efforts," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Dec. 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 432,000, a decrease of 22,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 454,000. The 4-week moving average was 460,250, a decrease of 5,500 from the previous week's revised average of 465,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.8 percent for the week ending Dec. 19, unchanged from the prior week's revised rate of 3.8 percent.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Dec. 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 452,000, a decrease of 28,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 480,000. The 4-week moving average was 465,250, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average of 468,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.9 percent for the week ending Dec. 12, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.9 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $945,820 National Emergency Grant increment to Oregon to continue to provide services to about 813 workers affected by layoffs at Hynix Semiconductor Manufacturing America Inc. in Eugene, Ore.

"Today's grant will ensure continued job placement assistance and other re-employment services for these Oregonians, and allow them to better access opportunities in emerging local industries," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3,874,594 grant to assist about 725 workers affected by layoffs at seven companies in Massachusetts' financial industry.

"Today's grant will provide the job search and employment services necessary for affected workers in Massachusetts to find new jobs in emerging industries," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Dec. 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 480,000, an increase of 7,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 473,000. The 4-week moving average was 467,500, a decrease of 5,250 from the previous week's revised average of 472,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.9 percent for the week ending Dec. 5, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.9 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $461,300 grant to assist about 65 workers affected by layoffs at Weyerhaeuser Co. – Dallas Lumber, in Dallas, Ore.

"Today's grant will help these Oregonians access the re-employment and retraining services that are so crucial to transitioning into new careers in promising sectors of the economy," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that nearly 4,000 workers in auto-related industries across Ohio are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

The certification includes workers at five Delphi Ohio facilities in Howland, Warren, Rootstown, Vienna and Cortland counties, as well as workers at Cleveland Casting Plant in Cleveland, Ohio.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 2,300 workers from companies in seven states – Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Dec. 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 474,000, an increase of 17,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 457,000. The 4-week moving average was 473,750, a decrease of 7,750 from the previous week's revised average of 481,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.9 percent for the week ending Nov. 28, a decrease of 0.2 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.1 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 2,300 workers from companies in seven states – Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Tennessee – and Puerto Rico are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a grant of up to $831,423 to assist approximately 75 workers affected by layoffs at Hampton Affiliates' Tillamook Lumber in Tillamook, Ore.

"Today's grant will provide the retraining and re-employment services necessary for these Oregonians to upgrade existing skills or seek out retraining that leads to careers in growing regional industries," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

Online job search sites invited to submit products to Web 2.0 platform

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Nov. 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 457,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 462,000. The 4-week moving average was 481,250, a decrease of 14,250 from the previous week's revised average of 495,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.1 percent for the week ending Nov. 21, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.1 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,422,473 grant to provide an estimated 1,892 jobless workers with partial premium payments for health insurance coverage.

"Finding new employment is a challenging enough task without having to worry about lacking health coverage for yourself or your family. This funding will help eligible workers avoid that prospect by helping them pay for health insurance while they look for a job," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Nov. 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 466,000, a decrease of 35,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 501,000. The 4-week moving average was 496,500, a decrease of 16,500 from the previous week's revised average of 513,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.1 percent for the week ending Nov. 14, a decrease of 0.2 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.3 percent.