WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced updates to its procedures for processing H-2B applications. 

In the week ending February 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 216,000, a decrease of 23,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 239,000. The 4-week moving average was 235,750, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 231,750. This is the highest level for this average since January 20, 2018 when it was 237,500.

In the week ending February 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 239,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 234,000 to 235,000. The 4-week moving average was 231,750, an increase of 6,750 from the previous week's revised average. This is the highest level for this average since January 27, 2018 when it was 234,000. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 224,750 to 225,000.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an opioid-crisis Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) to the Cherokee Nation for up to $5,996,501, with an initial grant amount of $1,998,834. This grant will provide disaster relief jobs and employment services to eligible individuals in Oklahoma counties impacted by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose.  

In the week ending February 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 234,000, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 253,000. The 4-week moving average was 224,750, an increase of 4,500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 220,250.

In the week ending January 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 253,000, an increase of 53,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the highest level for initial claims since September 30, 2017 when it was 254,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 199,000 to 200,000. The 4-week moving average was 220,250, an increase of 5,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 215,000 to 215,250.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced $85 million in grants will be awarded to YouthBuild programs in 32 states.

YouthBuild is an education and training program with a strong pre-apprenticeship component that helps at-risk youth complete high school or state equivalency degree programs, earn industry-recognized credentials for in-demand occupations, and undergo training to build housing for low-income or homeless individuals and families in their communities.

In the week ending January 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 199,000, a decrease of 13,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since November 15, 1969 when it was 197,000. The previous week's level was revised down by 1,000 from 213,000 to 212,000. The 4-week moving average was 215,000, a decrease of 5,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 250 from 220,750 to 220,500.

In the week ending January 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 213,000, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 216,000. The 4-week moving average was 220,750, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 221,750.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an opioid-crisis Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) award to the New York State Department of Labor to provide disaster relief jobs and employment services to eligible individuals in New York counties impacted by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose. Funding has been approved up to $5,591,446 with an initial award of $1,863,815.

In the week ending January 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 216,000, a decrease of 17,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 231,000 to 233,000. The 4-week moving average was 221,750, an increase of 2,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 218,750 to 219,250.

In the week ending December 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 231,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 5,000 from 216,000 to 221,000. The 4-week moving average was 218,750, a decrease of 500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,250 from 218,000 to 219,250.

In the week ending December 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 216,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 3,000 from 214,000 to 217,000. The 4-week moving average was 218,000, a decrease of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 750 from 222,000 to 222,750.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the launch of SeasonalJobs.dol.gov, a mobile-friendly online portal that is designed to help Americans identify and apply for open seasonal and temporary jobs. The site is a complete redesign of the Office of Foreign Labor Certification’s (OFLC) Public Job Registry, which has served as a repository for seasonal and temporary jobs.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor and the Florida Department of Military Affairs today announced a new Job Corps demonstration project to serve at-risk youth with job skills instruction through an expansion of the Florida National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program at Camp Blanding near Starke, Florida.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta and Idaho Governor C. L. “Butch” Otter today announced a Job Corps Demonstration Project that will make Idaho the first state in the nation to assume operational control of a Job Corps center and the responsibility to provide skills instruction to Job Corps students.

In the week ending December 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 214,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 206,000. The 4-week moving average was 222,000, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 224,750.

In the week ending December 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 206,000, a decrease of 27,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 231,000 to 233,000. The 4-week moving average was 224,750, a decrease of 3,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 228,000 to 228,500.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) has been approved for the California Department of Employment Development to assess workforce needs in response to November 2018 wildfires throughout California. The funding will assist the state in response to the Camp Fire in Butte County, which is now the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced additional incremental funding for a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) to the California Department of Employment Development to assess workforce needs in response to wildfires that affected the state in October and December 2017.