WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today signed a bi-lateral cooperative agreement with Guatemala to facilitate increased transparency, accountability, and worker safety in the H-2A nonimmigrant visa program for temporary agricultural workers from Guatemala.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today approved additional funding of $800,000 for a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) awarded to Workforce West Virginia in response to severe storms in February 2018. This additional funding brings the total DWG funds awarded for this project to $1,633,325. 

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.2 percent for the week ending July 13, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending July 13 was 1,676,000, a decrease of 13,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up 3,000 from 1,686,000 to 1,689,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,697,250, a decrease of 4,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 750 from 1,701,000 to 1,701,750.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a new grant program to help women affected by the opioid crisis re-enter the workforce. The Re-Employment, Support, and Training for the Opioid Related Epidemic (RESTORE) grant will award $2.5 million to organizations that assist in providing coordinated, employment-focused services to women.

WASHINGTON, DC – Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella today swore in John P. Pallasch as the Assistant Secretary for the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) during a ceremony at the Frances Perkins Building.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $11.1 million in Workforce Data Quality Initiative (WDQI) grants designed to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of state workforce data systems, and ultimately, the workforce programs in these states.

In the week ending July 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 216,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 1,000 from 209,000 to 208,000. The 4-week moving average was 218,750, a decrease of 250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 250 from 219,250 to 219,000.  

WASHINGTON, DC – In its latest effort to ensure that individuals returning to the labor force from the justice system have the opportunity to gain meaningful employment, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced approximately $85.9 million in Reentry Project grants awarded to 45 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today approved additional funding for a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) awarded to the North Carolina Department of Commerce.  The funding allows for assessing workforce needs in response to Hurricane Florence, which hit the state in September 2018.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an opioid-crisis Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for up to $5,600,000 with $1,866,667 released initially. This grant will provide disaster-relief jobs and employment services to eligible individuals in Illinois impacted by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an opioid-crisis Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development for up to $4,739,794, with $1,579,931 released initially. This grant will provide disaster-relief jobs and employment services to eligible individuals in Indiana impacted by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose.

WASHINGTON, DC – Furthering the agenda to help America's farmers, the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and Wage and Hour Division (WHD) today is posting online a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to solicit public comment on proposed changes to improve the H-2A temporary agricultural labor certification program.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) funding up to $8,805,300, with $2,935,100 released initially, for the California Department of Employment Development. Funding will be used to assess workforce needs in response to storms in February and March 2019. These storms brought torrential rains, heavy snow, and wind gusts, resulting in widespread flooding, power outages, and severe infrastructure damage.

In the week ending July 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 209,000, a decrease of 13,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 221,000 to 222,000. The 4-week moving average was 219,250, a decrease of 3,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 222,250 to 222,500.  

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta discussed the award of $12 million in advanced manufacturing apprenticeship grant funding to Missouri Community College Consortium during a visit to St. Louis Community College Center for Workforce Innovation, in Ferguson, Missouri. Secretary Acosta participated in a roundtable with the Chancellor of St. Louis Community College, Dr.

In the week ending June 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 221,000, a decrease of 8,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 227,000 to 229,000. The 4-week moving average was 222,250, an increase of 500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 221,250 to 221,750.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta discussed the award of $12 million in information technology apprenticeship grant funding to Purdue University during a visit to Purdue Polytechnic Institute, in West Lafayette, Indiana.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta discussed the award of $4 million in apprenticeship grant funding to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education during a visit to BridgeValley Community and Technical College in Montgomery, West Virginia. Secretary Acosta toured the college and participated in a roundtable with U.S.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today approved Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) funding up to $2,000,000, with $800,000 released initially, for the Nebraska Department of Labor. The funding assists with the assessment of workforce needs in response to storms and flooding that affected more than three quarters of the state in March 2019. 

In the week ending June 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 227,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 216,000 to 217,000. The 4-week moving average was 221,250, an increase of 2,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 218,750 to 219,000.