WASHINGTON, DC– The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the 2021 National Apprenticeship Week will be celebrated Nov. 15-21. The weeklong celebration allows labor and business leaders, educational institutions, career seekers and other partners to demonstrate support for apprenticeships in preparing a highly skilled, diverse workforce to meet the talent needs of employers and train Americans for good-paying jobs across multiple industries.

In the week ending August 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 340,000, a decrease of 14,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020 when it was 256,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 353,000 to 354,000. The 4-week moving average was 355,000, a decrease of 11,750 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since March 14, 2020 when it was 225,500. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 366,500 to 366,750.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the establishment of the Office of Unemployment Insurance Modernization to provide strategic leadership as the department works with state agencies and federal partners to modernize and reform the unemployment insurance system.

In the week ending August 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 353,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 348,000 to 349,000. The 4-week moving average was 366,500, a decrease of 11,500 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since March 14, 2020 when it was 225,500. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 377,750 to 378,000.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of the first $22 million of a total of $90 million in funding to help nine organizations provide training and employment services for job seekers in historically marginalized communities as the economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic’s impacts.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of up to $3.5 million in grant funding to establish a centralized resource for sharing proven practices and technical assistance tools to strengthen and improve outcomes for the public workforce system.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of an increased $90 million in funding grants to provide reemployment opportunities for displaced workers, historically marginalized communities or groups and those unemployed for an extended period or who have exhausted unemployment insurance or other pandemic unemployment insurance programs.

In the week ending August 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 348,000, a decrease of 29,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020 when it was 256,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 375,000 to 377,000. The 4-week moving average was 377,750, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since March 14, 2020 when it was 225,500. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 396,250 to 396,750.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $1,866,667 in incremental funding to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to support job creation and workforce training services in 13 counties affected significantly by widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of up to $5 million in grant funding to improve workers’ ability to exercise their labor rights in the agricultural supply chains in Guatemala and Honduras and the textile/apparel – or maquila – sector of El Salvador.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a series of actions to modernize and reform a cornerstone of our economic infrastructure, the unemployment insurance system. Over the last year alone, the unemployment insurance system has helped nearly 53 million workers stay afloat during a pandemic and economic crisis and put nearly $800 billion into the economy – staving off an even deeper recession.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced funding of $1,016,923 to support disaster-relief employment for eligible individuals to assist with cleanup after severe storms in February and March caused flooding and extensive waterway damage in southwestern areas of West Virginia.

In the week ending July 31, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 385,000, a decrease of 14,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 1,000 from 400,000 to 399,000. The 4-week moving average was 394,000, a decrease of 250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 250 from 394,500 to 394,250.

In the week ending July 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 400,000, a decrease of 24,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 5,000 from 419,000 to 424,000. The 4-week moving average was 394,500, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,250 from 385,250 to 386,500.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $1,096,975 in funding to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development for job creation and workforce training in 25 counties affected significantly by widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $2,093,964 in incremental funding to the Maine Department of Labor to create jobs and provide employment services to eligible participants in nine counties significantly affected by widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $800,000 of incremental funding to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to support employment and training services for individuals affected by the closure of three manufacturing companies in Essex County.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $800,000 in incremental funding to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to support job creation and workforce training services for individuals significantly impacted by widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose in Bristol and Plymouth counties.

In the week ending July 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 419,000, an increase of 51,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 8,000 from 360,000 to 368,000. The 4-week moving average was 385,250, an increase of 750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 2,000 from 382,500 to 384,500.