WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the Bureau of Labor Statistics' "Employment and Unemployment Among Youth Summary" released Aug. 21:

"As young Americans all across the country prepare to head into a new school year, I'm excited to say that many more will take with them lessons learned through summer jobs.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,141,783 National Emergency Grant increment to continue cleanup and recovery efforts related to flooding that affected northwestern Missouri between June 1 and Aug. 1, 2011. Awarded to the Missouri Division of Workforce Development, the additional funding will make possible temporary employment for eligible dislocated workers in affected areas.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending August 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 366,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 364,000. The 4-week moving average was 363,750, a decrease of 5,500 from the previous week's revised average of 369,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending August 4, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of nearly $100 million in grants for states to implement or improve existing short-term compensation, commonly referred to as "work sharing," programs. This funding has been made available through the bipartisan Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 signed by President Obama in February, which authorized states to set up programs to give employers an alternative to layoffs.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 28 the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 365,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 357,000. The 4-week moving average was 365,500, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average of 368,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending July 21, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a $795,076 National Emergency Grant that will fund temporary jobs to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts following severe storms that struck a number of eastern Minnesota counties June 14-21. The funds are being awarded to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of nearly $260 million in grants to 15 nonprofit organizations across the country to provide critical job training and related services through Senior Community Service Employment Program jobs.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 353,000, a decrease of 35,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 388,000. The 4-week moving average was 367,250, a decrease of 8,750 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 July 14, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

WASHINGTON – The states of Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina and Texas will receive grants totaling $3 million to develop strategies aimed at helping returning Army veterans find employment more quickly through the public workforce system, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced today. This funding represents an initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Army under the Unemployment Compensation for Ex-service Members program.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $256,953 National Emergency Grant to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Debby, which made landfall in Florida June 23.

"Tropical Storm Debby brought flash floods, tornadoes and coastal erosion to Florida," said Jane Oates, assistant secretary of labor for employment and training. "The department's funding is part of the federal government's commitment to help Floridians rebuild their communities and put their lives back on track."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2 million grant to assist about 450 workers who will be affected by the closure of the General Motors assembly plant in Shreveport, La. Layoffs at General Motors and by three of its suppliers – Android Industries LLC, Johnson Controls and Voith Industrial Services Inc. – will begin in August and continue through December.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a $420,518 grant to assist about 100 Connecticut workers affected by layoffs at the businesses of Klingberg Family Centers in New Britain, Moore Wallace North America Inc. (known as RR Donnelley) in Windsor and Raytel Cardiac Services Inc. (which also operated as Philips Remote Cardiac Services) in Windsor.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced six new appointments and 21 reappointments of members to the Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship. The committee is charged with expanding apprenticeships into all sectors of the economy and building partnerships that increase apprenticeship opportunities for Americans.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 386,000, an increase of 34,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 352,000. The 4-week moving average was 375,500, a decrease of 1,500 from the previous week's revised average of 377,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending July 7, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 350,000, a decrease of 26,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 376,000. The 4-week moving average was 376,500, a decrease of 9,750 from the previous week's revised average of 386,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending June 30, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending June 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 374,000, a decrease of 14,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 388,000. The 4-week moving average was 385,750, a decrease of 1,500 from the previous week's revised average of 387,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending June 23, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $12,193,752 National Emergency Grant supplement that will fund nearly 1,400 temporary jobs for eligible dislocated workers to assist with ongoing cleanup and recovery efforts following the severe storms and floods that struck southeastern Ohio between April 4 and May 15, 2011.

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $5 million National Emergency Grant incremental award that will fund temporary jobs to assist with continuing cleanup and recovery efforts in New York in the wake of damage caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a total of $12,096,172 in grants to nine nonprofit organizations across the country to provide critical employment and support services for previously incarcerated female adults and youth as they make the transition back into their communities.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending June 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 386,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 392,000. The 4-week moving average was 386,750, a decrease of 750 from the previous week's revised average of 387,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending June 16, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.