WASHINGTON – The Job Corps program and national non-profit the Tom Joyner Foundation have entered into an innovative pilot partnership to help prepare students achieve greater success in college, the U.S. Department of Labor announced today.

In the week ending October 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 258,000, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 260,000 to 261,000. The 4-week moving average was 253,000, an increase of 1,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 251,750 to 252,000.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced awards totaling approximately $30.4 million to 39 workforce agencies nationwide for initiatives to improve the delivery and management of state unemployment programs.

The funds will support efforts to improve UI program operations, better assist those eligible for the program, prevent and detect improper UI benefit payments, and modernize outdated information technology systems to ensure program efficiency.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of more than $140 million in grants to 19 non-profit organizations nationwide to provide critical job training and employment services through the Senior Community Service Employment Program.

In the week ending October 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 260,000, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 246,000 to 247,000. The 4-week moving average was 251,750, an increase of 2,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 249,250 to 249,500.

In the week ending October 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 246,000, unchanged from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 3,000 from 249,000 to 246,000. The 4-week moving average was 249,250, a decrease of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since November 3, 1973 when it was 244,000. The previous week's average was revised down by 750 from 253,500 to 252,750.

In the week ending October 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 249,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 254,000. The 4-week moving average was 253,500, a decrease of 2,500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 256,000. This is the lowest level for this average since December 8, 1973 when it was 252,250.

State: Texas

Type of award: National Dislocated Worker Grant

Initial amount released: $13,293,207

Total amount approved: $16,309,807

Funding awarded to: Texas Workforce Commission

Number of workers served: Approximately 4,191

State: Maryland

Type of award: National Dislocated Worker Grant

Amount approved/awarded: $4,326,443

Funding awarded to: Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation of Maryland

Number of workers served: Approximately 730

State: Texas

Type of Award: National Dislocated Worker Grant supplemental

Supplemental Amount Approved: $4,214,713     

Total Funds Awarded: $8,345,802

Funding Awarded to: Texas Workforce Commission

Number of Workers Served: Approximately 1,531

State: Massachusetts

Type of Award: National Dislocated Worker Grant

Award Amount Approved/Released: $784,648

Funding Awarded to: Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development

Number of Workers Served: Approximately 138

State: Massachusetts

Type of award: National Dislocated Worker Grant

Amount approved/awarded: $2,563,689

Funding awarded to: Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development

Number of workers served: Approximately 400

In the week ending September 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 254,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 1,000 from 252,000 to 251,000. The 4-week moving average was 256,000, a decrease of 2,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 250 from 258,500 to 258,250.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a total of $43,286,407 in Reemployment & Systems Integration National Dislocated Worker Grants to 43 states and territories to support and improve connectivity among existing workforce programs.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the funding of a $6 million National Dislocated Worker Grant initial award to the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources to employ temporary workers to assist with recovery efforts after the Zika virus outbreak in the commonwealth.

State: Massachusetts

Type of Award: National Dislocated Worker Grant

Supplemental Amount Approved: $566,250

Total Funds Awarded to Date: $4,901,016

Funding Awarded to:  Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development

Number of Workers Served: Approximately 309

State: California

Type of Award: National Dislocated Worker Grant supplemental

Supplemental Amount Approved: $13 million    

Total Funds Awarded: $31 million

Funding Awarded to:  California Employment Development Department

Number of Workers Served: Approximately 1,600

In the week ending September 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 252,000, a decrease of 8,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 260,000. The 4-week moving average was 258,500, a decrease of 2,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 260,750.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the award of $80.3 million in YouthBuild grants to non-profit organizations in 35 states to help young people struggling to reach key educational and career milestones and to equip themselves to be successful in the workforce and engaged in their communities.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today over $20.4 million in contract awards to 14 national industry intermediaries and national equity partners to expand apprenticeship opportunities across the U.S.