WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded more than $7.6 million in grants to five states to design and implement innovative strategies that will improve re-employment services for unemployed workers. States receiving these funds responded to a "call to innovate" around a new national vision and framework that aim to create an integrated workforce customer registration process, use real-time data for enhanced decision-making, highlight skills transferability and leverage social media tools.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding congressional passage of Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers:

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending October 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 404,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 405,000. The 4-week moving average was 408,000, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's revised average of 415,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent for the week ending October 1, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's revised rate of 3.0 percent.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending October 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 401,000, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 395,000. The 4-week moving average was 414,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised average of 418,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent for the week ending September 24, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate.

Grants target industries in 20 states and DC that rely on H-1B visa program for skilled workers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $12,845,000 National Emergency Grant to assist Puerto Rico with recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending September 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 391,000, a decrease of 37,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 428,000. The 4-week moving average was 417,000, a decrease of 5,250 from the previous week's revised average of 422,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent for the week ending September 17, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $21,166,560 for seven states under the Disability Employment Initiative to improve education, training, and employment opportunities and outcomes for youth and adults who are unemployed, underemployed and/or receiving Social Security disability benefits. The 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 today announced a $10 million National Emergency Grant to assist Pennsylvania with recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Irene.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis and Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter today announced nearly $500 million in grants to community colleges around the country for targeted training and workforce development to help economically dislocated workers who are changing careers. The grants support partnerships between community colleges and employers to develop programs that provide pathways to good jobs, including building instructional programs that meet specific industry needs.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an $89,673 National Emergency Grant increment to continue cleanup and recovery efforts following the severe winter storms and resulting flooding, mudslides, landslides and debris flows that struck Oregon in January.

16 federal agencies come together to support development of high-growth industry clusters in 21 states

Delay avoids administering the H-2B program under potentially conflicting court orders

WASHINGTON Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis has issued the following statement regarding today s passage by the U.S. Senate of Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers:

In 2009, Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress worked with President Obama to craft a bipartisan agreement that improved the Trade Adjustment Assistance program to help American workers who lost their jobs to foreign competition or outsourcing.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending September 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 423,000, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 432,000. The 4-week moving average was 421,000, an increase of 500 from the previous week's revised average of 420,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent for the week ending September 10, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $7,795,700 National Emergency Grant to assist New Jersey with recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Irene.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2 million National Emergency Grant to create temporary jobs for eligible dislocated workers to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts in North Carolina after major damage was inflicted by Hurricane Irene in August.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1.68 million National Emergency Grant to assist Vermont with cleanup and recovery efforts in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $16,186,108 National Emergency Grant to assist New York with recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Irene.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending September 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 428,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 417,000. The 4-week moving average was 419,500, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised average of 415,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent for the week ending September 3, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.