WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced major milestones in the continuing effort to expand apprenticeships in the United States.

This morning, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) was made public that would establish a process for the U.S. Department of Labor to advance the development of high-quality, industry-recognized apprenticeship programs (IRAPs). 

In the week ending June 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 216,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 222,000. The 4-week moving average was 218,750, an increase of 1,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 217,750.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the award of $2,234,122 for Fidelity Bonding Demonstration Grants. These grants will enable states to expand their use of fidelity bonds to help persons with criminal records with employment opportunities.

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced funds available to increase the usage of fidelity bonds, through the Federal Bonding Program (FBP), to secure employment opportunities for workers recovering from the misuse of opioids. 

The Department is committed to helping those recovering from opioid use find family-sustaining jobs, informing employers about opportunities to provide second chances, and advancing strategies to address barriers to employment that may exist. 

In the week ending June 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 222,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 218,000 to 219,000. The 4-week moving average was 217,750, an increase of 2,

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta and Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards today announced a new Job Corps demonstration project to serve at-risk youth with skills instruction through an expansion of the Louisiana National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program. The Louisiana National Guard currently operates three Youth ChalleNGe programs: at Camp Minden, at Camp Beauregard and at the Gillis W. Long Center. The Job ChalleNGe project will be delivered through a repurposed Carville Job Corps Center, which is located adjacent to the Gillis W.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $1.5 million in grant funding available to recruit, mentor, train, and retain more women in quality apprenticeship programs and pursue careers in manufacturing, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and health care, among other industries.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has announced the availability of up to $29.2 million in demonstration grant funds to expand the impact of workforce development initiatives in the Appalachian and Delta regions through the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) grant initiative. 

In the week ending June 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 218,000, unchanged from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 3,000 from 215,000 to 218,000. The 4-week moving average was 215,000, a decrease of 2,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 750 from 216,750 to 217,500.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an opioid-crisis Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services for up to up to $11,000,000, with $3,666,667 released initially. This grant will provide disaster-relief jobs and employment services to eligible individuals in Ohio 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 Workforce West Virginia for up to up to $10,000,000, with $3,333,333 released initially. This grant will provide disaster-relief jobs and employment services to eligible individuals in West Virginia impacted by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose.

In the week ending May 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 215,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 211,000 to 212,000. The 4-week moving average was 216,750, a decrease of 3,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 220,250 to 220,500.  

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the U.S. Department of Labor accepted a letter from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) stating the USDA's Forest Service will withdraw from operating Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers (CCC). This action creates an opportunity to serve a greater number of students at higher performing centers at a lower cost to taxpayers by modernizing and reforming part of the Job Corps program.  

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today approved Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) funding up to $8,828,533, with $2,942,844 released initially, for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The funding assists with the assessment of workforce needs in response to record-breaking rainfall that caused extreme flooding and embankment failures, along with extensive damage to critical roads and culverts. Severe storms battered Ohio from February 5 through 13, 2019, affecting nearly one third of the state.

In the week ending May 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 211,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 212,000. The 4-week moving average was 220,250, a decrease of 4,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 225,000.

In the week ending May 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 212,000, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 228,000. The 4-week moving average was 225,000, an increase of 4,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 220,250.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today approved a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) awarded to Iowa Workforce Development to assess workforce needs in response to recent storms and floods affecting more than half of the state. On March 12, 2019, a major storm system, described as a “bomb cyclone,” brought heavy rains and unusually warm temperatures after a winter of substantial snow and cold temperatures, resulting in historic flooding.

In the week ending May 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 228,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 230,000. The 4-week moving average was 220,250, an increase of 7,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 212,500.

In the week ending April 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 230,000, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised level of 230,000. The 4-week moving average was 212,500, an increase of 6,500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 206,000.