WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a $500,000 National Emergency Grant supplement to continue re-employment and training services for workers who were hired on a temporary basis to help with cleanup and recovery efforts in the wake of the tsunami that struck American Samoa in September 2009.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded three National Emergency Grants totaling more than $4 million to the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources that will assist more than 750 workers affected by recent plant closures and resulting layoffs in Puerto Rico.

"The services provided through these federal grants will help these dislocated workers improve their re-employment prospects by providing training to prepare them for careers in high-demand industries," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,697,185 grant to assist about 345 workers affected by layoffs from AdLife Healthcare LLC, Fidelity Investments, Fidelity National Information Services Inc., IAP Worldwide Services Inc., National Grid USA Service Co. Inc., Quantech Services Inc. and Sun Life Financial at locations throughout Massachusetts.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced awards of $1.8 million in grants to consortia in six states through the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations program.

"Apprenticeship programs are effective pipelines into growing industries. But too often, these programs are not as accessible to women. The federal grants announced today will better connect women with apprenticeships, helping them to gain skills in fields that offer long-term career opportunities," said Secretary Solis.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $100,485 National Emergency Grant supplement to continue providing re-employment and training services to about 75 workers affected by layoffs by the Maine Military Authority in Limestone, Maine.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,055,188 grant to assist about 755 workers affected by the closure of four companies in Wisconsin's manufacturing sector: Joerns Healthcare Inc. of Stevens Point, SNE Enterprises Inc. of Mosinee, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. of Two Rivers, and Wausau Paper Printing and Writing LLC of Brokaw. The layoffs began in December 2011 and will continue through December 2012.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded nearly $50 million in two types of grants to 25 community-based organizations that will provide job training, education and support services to youth and young adults returning from the juvenile justice system.

"These young people deserve a chance to turn their lives around," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The federal grants announced today will help vulnerable youth receive the training and support they need to gain valuable job skills and improve their long-term employment prospects."

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending June 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 387,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 389,000. The 4-week moving average was 386,250, an increase of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average of 382,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending June 9, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $5,990,725 National Emergency Grant supplemental award to continue re-employment services for more than 4,800 workers directly affected by the closure of New United Motors Manufacturing Inc. in Fremont, Calif., and 39 suppliers affected by the closure of NUMMI's plant.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,542,924 National Emergency Grant increment to provide employment-related services to 443 workers who are members of the Lummi Nation and have been affected by fishing industry layoffs in Bellingham, Wash.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,118,609 National Emergency Grant increment to provide employment-related services to more than 960 workers impacted by the closure of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. facility located in Union City, Tenn.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,583,093 increment of a National Emergency Grant to continue employment-related services for about 960 workers affected by layoffs from pharmaceutical companies in northern New Jersey.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a $203,555 National Emergency Grant increment to continue employment-related services for about 600 workers affected by layoffs and closings at 11 companies in Massachusetts and one in Connecticut across a variety of industries.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced guidance to state agencies responsible for Unemployment Insurance regarding short-time compensation, commonly referred to as "work sharing." Today's announcement is the latest in a series of innovative reforms to the UI program made possible by the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 signed by President Obama in February.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a $3,330,000 National Emergency Grant increment to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry to assist the commonwealth with continuing clean-up and recovery efforts following Hurricane Irene, which struck Aug. 26-30, 2011, and Tropical Storm Lee, which struck Sept. 3, 2011. The funds will support temporary jobs in affected areas.

Grants will support, enhance and evaluate innovative employment and training opportunities

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced nearly $147 million in grants to develop and expand innovative strategies to help Americans return to work by delivering services more efficiently, facilitating cooperation across programs and funding streams, and focusing on partnerships with specific employers or industry sectors to develop programs that reflect current and future skill needs.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending June 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 386,000, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 380,000. The 4-week moving average was 382,000, an increase of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average of 378,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending June 2, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced approximately $12 million in grants awarded through the second round of funding under the Workforce Data Quality Initiative. The funds will enable 12 additional states to build or expand longitudinal databases of workforce data and link them to education data to help improve the overall performance of workforce development programs.

Goal is Hispanic community awareness of career resources, hands-on opportunities

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending June 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 377,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 389,000. The 4-week moving average was 377,750, an increase of 1,750 from the previous week's revised average of 376,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending May 26, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.