US Department of Labor awards nearly $20M in funding to support training, services, wage subsidies for workers hurt by foreign trade

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $19,796,000 in funding to provide training and employment services in 45 states and Puerto Rico to eligible workers affected adversely by foreign trade.

The awards are the department’s final distribution of fiscal year 2022 funds to states through the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers Program, and follow $201.8 million in awards announced in June. Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the program supports training, employment and case management services, job search and relocation allowances and income support during training.

“Trade adjustment assistance provides a safety net for workers whose jobs are sent overseas and helps them return to the workforce,” said Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “In many cases, these workers are among our nation’s most vulnerable: they are often older, more diverse, less educated and highly tenured.”

Without congressional action to reauthorize the program, the TAA Program entered a phased termination status on July 1, 2022, leaving the program able only to provide benefits and services to eligible workers whose petitions were certified before July 1, 2022. The program remains in termination until the last eligible worker is served or until Congress reauthorizes the TAA program to accept new petitions to cover affected workers.

“With Congress’ help to reauthorize the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers Program, we can show these workers and others displaced from their jobs by foreign competition that government works for them,” Secretary Walsh added.”

A list of each recipient’s funding follows this news release.