In the week ending March 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 261,000, an increase of 15,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 5,000 from 241,000 to 246,000. The 4-week moving average was 246,500, an increase of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 5,750 from 237,250 to 243,000.

Participants: U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Nebraska Safety Council
Great Plains Safety and Health Organization
National Safety Council Nebraska

Participants: U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Apprenticeship and Skill Improvement Program, Operation Engineers, Local 150

Alliance: OSHA and the Apprenticeship and Skill Improvement Program, Operation Engineers, Local 150 in Wilmington, Illinois, have signed a two-year renewal of their alliance to provide information, guidance and access to training resources for heavy equipment employers and workers.

WASHINGTON – Northern California paid a hefty toll for storms that brought heavy rain and snow in January 2017. The overabundance of moisture led to flooding and mudslides, the downing of large numbers of trees and power lines, and mass evacuations.

The harsh weather also caused the region’s Lake Oroville to rise above flood levels, damaging the spillway of the nation’s tallest dam and leading to the evacuation of more than 180,000 residents. Roads, public parks and other infrastructure also suffered severe and extensive damage.

State: Kentucky

Type of Award: National Dislocated Worker Grant supplemental

Additional Amount Awarded: $3,853,620

Total Funds Awarded: $4,952,420

Funding Awarded to: Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet

Number of Workers Served: Approximately 250

State: Kentucky

Type of Award: National Dislocated Worker Grant

Initial Amount Approved: $7,494,017

Incremental Amount Awarded: $3,301,271

Funding Awarded to: Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program

Number of Workers Served: Approximately 685

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a delay in the effective date of the rule titled “Occupational Exposure to Beryllium,” from March 21, 2017, to May 20, 2017.

Who: U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Wage and Hour Division
Employee Benefits Security Administration
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
Veterans’ Employment and Training Service

What: U.S. Labor Department Employer Forum

WASHINGTON – Young adults and adults who exit correctional systems have numerous and diverse challenges that hinder their ability to enter the workforce and achieve successful reentry into their community. Today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced $66 million in available funding to organizations to develop or expand programs to strengthen access to opportunity for these individuals.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. – The Excelsior Springs Job Corps Center has launched a Culinary Arts Apprenticeship Program at William Jewell College in partnership with Fresh Ideas, a Missouri-based food-service provider.

The apprenticeship designation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship allows culinary arts students at the Job Corps center to obtain industry credentials and improve their culinary skills through valuable hands-on training programs with local employers.

DENISON, Iowa – The Denison Job Corps Center has launched a Certified Nursing Assistant Apprenticeship Program that will give its students hands-on training and better prepare them for jobs in health care.

The designation by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship allows the center’s CNA students to obtain a certification accepted at any Iowa hospital, nursing home or care center.

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

Associated Builders and Contractors Inc.-Heart of America Chapter

ATLANTA – The National Federal Farm Labor Certificate of Registration Unit will hold two mobile processing events in Florida to register farm labor contractors and employees. This free service is being offered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.

ORLANDO, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Labor and two subsidiaries of The Walt Disney Co. have reached an agreement that will provide $3.8 million in back wages to ensure compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act.

In the week ending March 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 241,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 243,000. The 4-week moving average was 237,250, an increase of 750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 236,500.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. ‒ The U.S.

BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor and UnWrapped, Inc. have reached a settlement agreement that will allow employees of the Massachusetts sewing factory to recover $890,021 in back wages and liquidated damages to resolve past violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

What: The U.S. Department of Labor announces the availability of $497,000 in funding to serve Native Hawaiian and Alaskan Native youth and young adults, ages 14-24, to develop skills needed for high-growth, in-demand occupations and industries.

These grants are designed specifically to provide skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math fields. They aim to increase Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native enrollment in STEM-related certificate and degree programs, as well as provide education mentoring programs and work experience in STEM-related professions.

WASHINGTON – For many of our nation’s at-risk youth, getting educated and starting a successful career are goals often out of reach. Across the U.S., YouthBuild programs seek to help these young people reach their full potential by providing critical job skills in construction to help propel them towards professional success.

In the week ending March 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 243,000, an increase of 20,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 223,000. The 4-week moving average was 236,500, an increase of 2,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 234,250.