WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,203,292 National Emergency Grant increment to continue to assist approximately 1,515 Wisconsin workers impacted by automotive industry layoffs and plant closures in Rock County, Wis.

"These workers deserve training and employment services that will allow them to re-enter the workforce," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The department is committed to helping auto workers upgrade existing skills or pursue new careers in promising regional industries."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,624,000 National Emergency Grant increment to continue to assist Illinois workers impacted by layoffs and plant closures at 31 companies across the state.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $13,007,527 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of New Mexico. New Mexico qualified for a portion of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $5,206,411 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Alaska. Alaska qualified for a portion of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending June 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 627,000, an increase of 15,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 612,000. The 4-week moving average was 617,250, an increase of 500 from the previous week's revised average of 616,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 5.0 percent for the week ending June 13, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 5.0 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $44,644,693 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Wisconsin. Wisconsin qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $75,886,483 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Oklahoma. Oklahoma qualified for its full share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by providing for a variety of provisions that assist recent entrants to the workforce, part time workers, and people who become unemployed because of compelling family reasons.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – During a visit to Memphis today, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced five grant competitions, totaling $500 million, to fund projects that prepare workers for green jobs in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $6,508,588 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Montana. Montana qualified for a portion of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $469,694 grant to assist approximately 60 workers affected by layoffs at ACE Precision Castings LLC and Lennox Industries Inc. located in Marshalltown, Iowa.

"The grant awarded today will allow these Iowans to access services and training that will enable them to enter careers in growing regional industries," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $405,000 grant to assist approximately 80 workers affected by layoffs at the Freightliner Trucks manufacturing facility in Portland, Ore. Freightliner Trucks is a division of Daimler Trucks North America, the largest manufacturer of heavy duty vehicles in North America and a leading manufacturer of medium-duty vehicles.

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the certification of 20 petitions for benefit eligibility for workers under the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, which provides training and employment services for workers who have lost their jobs due to competitive foreign trade. These are the first certifications under the new TAA law that took effect on May 18, 2009, which, among other changes, expanded program access to previously ineligible service industry workers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $643,661 grant to assist approximately 90 workers affected by layoffs at GE Security Inc. located in Tualatin, Ore. On Jan. 8, the company announced the permanent modification of operations at the Tualatin facility, resulting in significant layoffs.

"Today's grant will allow these workers to access the employment and training services necessary to gain re-employment in growing regional industries," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $69,427,524 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Michigan. Michigan qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending June 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 608,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 605,000. The 4-week moving average was 615,750, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's revised average of 622,750.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis has announced the award of approximately $114 million to 183 community groups to provide education and training to young people across the United States. This amount is an initial increment for two years of grant operations. A remaining increment may be awarded pending the availability of additional funding. Among today's awardees, 62 are current Department of Labor YouthBuild grantees, and 121 are new to the department.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $4,768,700 grant to assist approximately 1,109 workers affected by layoffs at five companies in the manufacturing and retail industries.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending June 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 601,000, a decrease of 24,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 625,000. The 4-week moving average was 621,750, a decrease of 10,500 from the previous week's revised average of 632,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 5.1 percent for the week ending May 30, unchanged from the prior week's revised rate of 5.1 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today released more than $450 million in Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) funding to states to provide career training, and employment and case management services to workers who lose their jobs due to outsourcing and foreign trade.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $720,000 grant to create approximately 40 temporary jobs for eligible workers to assist in clean-up and recovery efforts resulting from flooding in southern West Virginia.

"The southern West Virginia region has been severely impacted by recent flash flooding," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will provide temporary employment and help the area recover from the disaster."