WASHINGTON – With meaningful employment secured, formerly incarcerated people can fully integrate into their communities more successfully and avoid relapse. To help remove barriers to employment the U.S. Department of Labor today announces the availability of $48 million in funding to provide training and employment services to incarcerated individuals before their release from state correctional facilities, or county or local jails.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced it will publish a final rule to amend how the Adverse Effect Wage Rates for the H-2A program are set to improve the rates’ consistency and accuracy based on the work actually performed by these workers and to better prevent H-2A workers’ employment negatively affecting the wages of U.S. workers in similar positions.

In the week ending February 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 192,000, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 194,000 to 195,000. The 4-week moving average was 191,250, an increase of 1,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 189,500 to 189,750.

WASHINGTON – When MasterBrand Cabinets announced plans in December 2022 to close its Newton, Kansas location, the area lost one of its largest employers, displacing more than 400 workers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $50 million in grants to help 15 community colleges in 14 states expand access to education and training for good-paying jobs and equitably meet employers’ and workers’ skill development needs.  

In the week ending February 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 194,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 1,000 from 196,000 to 195,000. The 4-week moving average was 189,500, an increase of 500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 250 from 189,250 to 189,000.

WASHINGTON – To help identify and address barriers workers face regarding access to state unemployment insurance benefits, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of nearly $16 million in equity grants to Connecticut, New Jersey and Oklahoma.

In the week ending February 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 196,000, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 183,000. The 4-week moving average was 189,250, a decrease of 2,500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 191,750.

WASHINGTON – To help meet the need for auto technicians in the growing electric vehicle industry, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced a national partnership with Mercedes-Benz USA to train Job Corps students initially at centers in Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Utah for automotive industry careers.

WASHINGTON – El Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. anunció hoy un acuerdo con Mercedes-Benz USA para empezar a entrenar a estudiantes de Job Corps en centros de Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nueva Jersey y Utah y ayudar con ello a satisfacer la necesidad de técnicos automotrices en la creciente industria de vehículos eléctricos.

In the week ending January 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 183,000, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 186,000. The 4-week moving average was 191,750, a decrease of 5,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 197,500.

In the week ending January 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 186,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 190,000 to 192,000. The 4-week moving average was 197,500, a decrease of 9,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 750 from 206,000 to 206,750.

In the week ending January 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 190,000, a decrease of 15,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 205,000. The 4-week moving average was 206,000, a decrease of 6,500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 212,500.

WASHINGTON – As much as Americans depend upon young migrant and seasonal farmworkers to supply fruits and vegetables to their households, few may realize the difficulties these workers face on farms throughout the nation.

WASHINGTON – To help identify and address barriers workers face regarding access to state unemployment insurance benefits, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $9.1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to the New York State Department of Labor.

In the week ending January 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 205,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 204,000 to 206,000. The 4-week moving average was 212,500, a decrease of 1,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 213,750 to 214,250.

WASHINGTON – In communities around the country that have historically experienced disinvestment, leading to high rates of poverty and violent crime, young people with arrest or conviction records face difficulties in finding and keeping a good job. To help these youth and young adults, from ages 15 to 24, to succeed in the workforce and in their communities, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $33 million in Growth Opportunities grants to programs in 11 states.

WASHINGTON – While Michigan saw overdose fatalities decline in 2018 and 2019, the pandemic forced more people to isolate, made treatment services less accessible and worsened the state’s opioids epidemic, reports the Michigan Opioids Task Force.

In the week ending December 31, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 204,000, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 2,000 from 225,000 to 223,000. The 4-week moving average was 213,750, a decrease of 6,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 500 from 221,000 to 220,500.

In the week ending December 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 225,000, an increase of 9,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 216,000. The 4-week moving average was 221,000, a decrease of 250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 500 from 221,750 to 221,250.