WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $205,063,552 in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to the state of North Carolina. North Carolina qualified for its full share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act by providing for a variety of provisions that assist recent entrants to the workforce, part-time workers and workers who become unemployed because of compelling family reasons.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Oct. 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 434,000, a decrease of 21,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 455,000. The 4-week moving average was 453,250, a decrease of 5,500 from the previous week's revised average of 458,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.5 percent for the week ending Oct. 16, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's revised rate of 3.6 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration has approved national guidelines for apprenticeship standards for the occupation of direct support professional. These standards will enable employers to use ETA's Registered Apprenticeship program to train workers for careers in the long-term care sector of the health care industry.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3,390,568 grant to assist about 300 workers affected by fishing industry layoffs in the Lummi Nation, located near Bellingham, Wash.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $64,499 National Emergency Grant supplemental award to continue to provide services to 198 workers affected by layoffs at BAE Systems Inc. in Fridley, Minn.

"Continued access to quality training and job search services is a crucial component in helping Minnesotans find re-employment in today's challenging labor market," said Jane Oates, assistant secretary for the department's Employment and Training Administration.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Oct. 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 452,000, a decrease of 23,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 475,000. The 4-week moving average was 458,000, a decrease of 4,250 from the previous week's revised average of 462,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.5 percent for the week ending Oct. 9, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.5 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3,008,790 grant to provide an estimated 1,868 jobless workers in Virginia with partial premium payments for health insurance coverage.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $1,335,274 in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to the U.S. Virgin Islands. The territory qualified for these funds, which account for the remaining two-thirds of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, by making unemployment benefits available to part-time workers and by including certain family-friendly provisions in its UI law.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $984,248 grant to assist approximately 130 workers affected by layoffs at five Severstal locations four in Ohio and one in West Virginia and one supplier, Kinder-Morgan, located in Pennsylvania. Those eligible for services under this grant are Ohio residents.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Oct. 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 462,000, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 449,000. The 4-week moving average was 459,000, an increase of 2,250 from the previous week's revised average of 456,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.5 percent for the week ending Oct. 2, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's revised rate of 3.6 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3,511,254 grant to assist approximately 546 workers affected by layoffs at Valero Energy Corp. located in Delaware City, Del.

"Losing a job hurts. Beyond providing wages, our jobs are so much a part of our identity. These funds will help workers get back into the job market, and back to lifelong career paths," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Workers will have the opportunity to upgrade their skills to obtain jobs similar to those they lost or pursue new careers in other fields."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,912,436 grant to assist approximately 800 workers affected by layoffs from multiple companies located in Pima County, Ariz.

"The economy of southern Arizona was hit especially hard by the recession and the collapse of the housing market," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will give workers access to indispensable re-employment and retraining services and lead them to careers in promising sectors of the state's economy."

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Oct. 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 445,000, a decrease of 11,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 456,000. The 4-week moving average was 455,750, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised average of 458,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.5 percent for the week ending Sept. 25, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's revised rate of 3.6 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration today announced a solicitation for grant applications for the YouthBuild program. Approximately $130 million is available through two separate appropriations.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration today announced the publication of a proposed rule that seeks to improve the H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker program and better protect American workers. The proposed rule, to be published in the Federal Register tomorrow, addresses the calculations used to set wage rates for H-2B workers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $18,421,988 in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to the District of Columbia. The district qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act by making state unemployment benefits available to part-time workers and by providing additional weeks of benefits to UI beneficiaries enrolled in approved training programs.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Sept. 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 453,000, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 469,000. The 4-week moving average was 458,000, a decrease of 6,250 from the previous week's revised average of 464,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.5 percent for the week ending Sept. 18, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's revised rate of 3.6 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an award of $21,276,575 to nine states under the Disability Employment Initiative to improve education, training, and employment opportunities and outcomes of youth and adults who are unemployed and/or receiving Social Security disability benefits. The Disability Employment Initiative is jointly funded and administered by the department's Employment and Training Administration and its Office of Disability Employment Policy.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $5.8 million National Emergency Grant award to assist cleanup and recovery efforts in the wake of severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes that struck Iowa in June.

"Severe storms inflicted widespread damage across the state of Iowa throughout June, and families and businesses need our support," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will help these citizens cleanup and repair their affected communities."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3,644,575 grant to assist about 960 workers affected by layoffs from the pharmaceutical industry in northern New Jersey.

"Today's grant will give these workers the opportunity to find new jobs in expanding sectors of the state's economy," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These are hard-working and highly talented individuals, and we want to do everything possible to help guide and prepare them for other employment opportunities that may be available locally."