WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today welcomed President Donald J. Trump’s bold step towards fulfilling his promises to grow the American economy with the announcement of an executive order to expand apprenticeships and vocational training, close the skills gap and reduce regulatory burdens on workforce development programs.

In the week ending June 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 237,000, a decrease of 8,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 245,000. The 4-week moving average was 243,000, an increase of 1,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 242,000.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor will publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to rescind a rule that would have required employers and labor-management consultants to report consultants’ indirect contact with workers during union organizing campaigns. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the award of $248,500 in funding to help supplement existing employment and training efforts for Native Hawaiian youth with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math fields.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the award of $248,500 in funding to help supplement existing employment and training efforts for Alaska Native youth with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math fields.

PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is conducting a residential construction survey in 25 eastern Pennsylvania counties to collect data on wages paid to workers to help establish prevailing wage rates, as required under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts.

MOUNTAINSIDE, N.J. – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and KPMG, one of the world’s largest auditing firms, have entered into a conciliation agreement to resolve allegations of hiring discrimination.

In the week ending June 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 245,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 7,000 from 248,000 to 255,000. The 4-week moving average was 242,000, an increase of 2,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,750 from 238,000 to 239,750.

DAWSON, Pa. – A Southwestern Pennsylvania farm and landscaping company has paid nearly $22,000 in back wages and penalties after the U.S. Department of Labor found the operator failed to recruit and hire U.S. workers before hiring workers under the H-2A visa program, in violation of section 218 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today announced the withdrawal of the U.S. Department of Labor’s 2015 and 2016 informal guidance on joint employment and independent contractors.  Removal of the administrator interpretations does not change the legal responsibilities of employers under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, as reflected in the department’s long-standing regulations and case law.

SAN FRANCISCO – For the first time in its history, the U.S. Department of Labor has successfully obtained a preliminary injunction order under the H-2A visa program against entities accused of providing illegal and life-threatening living conditions to its employees. G Farms, its owner, and three other defendants are accused of providing the dangerous and substandard housing to agricultural workers in El Mirage, Arizona.

WASHINGTON – After a thorough review of the U.S. Department of Labor’s foreign worker visa programs, Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta announced actions to increase protections of American workers while more aggressively confronting entities committing visa program fraud and abuse.

WASHINGTON – To help bolster the economy of Washington state’s Puget Sound region, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta has approved $1,666,275 in funding for reemployment and training services for workers affected by layoffs at Boeing Co., facilities.

Participants: U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Georgia Institute of Technology Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program

Holder Construction Co.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement on the May 2017 Employment Situation report:

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today released the following statement on President Trump’s announcement on the Paris climate accord:

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, N.J. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and one of the nation's largest public hospitals have resolved litigation by reaching an agreement that requires the center to enhance its efforts to prevent violence in the workplace.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced today it has designated June 12-18, 2017, as “Safe + Sound Week,” a new nationwide effort that calls on organizations of all sizes in a wide range of  industries to raise awareness of the value and importance of workplace safety and health programs.

In the week ending May 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 248,000, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 234,000 to 235,000. The 4-week moving average was 238,000, an increase of 2,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 235,250 to 235,500.

Participants: U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration Construction Safety Leadership Alliance