WASHINGTON – During a visit to Iowa today, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced a $521,910 grant to assist approximately 90 workers affected by layoffs at Featherlite Inc. located in Cresco, Iowa.

"This grant will help affected workers rejoin the labor force by providing them with top notch training and job-related services," said Secretary Solis. "Iowans are an important part of the nation's workforce, and they can count on the U.S. Department of Labor to ensure they have access to the employment resources they need and deserve."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that nearly 550 workers in auto-related industries in Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

"Over the years, our nation has benefited immensely from the work and dedication of those employed in auto-related industries across these states," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Trade Adjustment Assistance is one way we can support these workers as they seek re-employment in promising regional industries that pay family-supporting wages."

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Aug. 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 550,000, a decrease of 38,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 588,000. The 4-week moving average was 555,250, a decrease of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average of 560,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.7 percent for the week ending July 25, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.7 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3,421,645 grant to assist approximately 1,227 workers across the state of Wisconsin affected by layoffs at 11 companies in the manufacturing industry in the northeastern part of the state.

"These Wisconsin workers have made tremendous sacrifices, and they deserve our support," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This grant will ensure that they receive the training and reemployment services necessary to find new jobs."

Grants will advance Registered Apprenticeships into 21st century

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $6,499,992 to assist national industry and employer associations and labor-management organizations in advancing Registered Apprenticeship through the development of innovative programs that utilize an updated 21st century Registered Apprenticeship framework.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that almost 2,000 workers in auto-related industries in Michigan, Indiana, South Carolina and Mississippi are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced grants totaling $26.5 million to 25 states to implement or enhance the Re-employment and Eligibility Assessment (REA) Initiative for unemployment insurance (UI) recipients.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $558,591 grant to assist approximately 160 workers affected by layoffs at eight manufacturing companies located in southern New Hampshire.

"The professionalism and commitment to quality of the American manufacturing workforce is unparalleled," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These workers deserve our support as they seek to upgrade current skills or enter training leading to good jobs in growing industries."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $10 million in funding to organizations that connect older Americans to career opportunities. The Aging Worker Initiative: Strategies for Regional Talent Development is designed to train workers aged 55 and older for jobs in high-growth, high-demand industries, and increase the public workforce system's capacity to effectively serve an aging worker population.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $578,574 grant to assist approximately 50 workers affected by layoffs at Sauer Danfoss Inc. in Hillsboro, Ore.

"The professionalism and commitment to quality of the American manufacturing workforce is unparalleled," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These workers deserve our support as they seek to upgrade current skills or enter training leading to good jobs in growing industries."

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 584,000, an increase of 25,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 559,000. The 4-week moving average was 559,000, a decrease of 8,250 from the previous week's revised average of 567,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.7 percent for the week ending July 18, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.7 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $28,231,263 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Maine. Maine qualified for its full share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act or ARRA) by providing for a variety of provisions that make it easier for recent entrants to the workforce, workers seeking part-time work and people who are upgrading their skills to be eligible for benefits.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that almost 1,000 workers in auto-related industries in Michigan are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that more than 600 workers from Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in Union City, Tenn., are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 554,000, an increase of 30,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 524,000. The 4-week moving average was 566,000, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week's revised average of 585,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.7 percent for the week ending July 11, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.7 percent.

WASHINGTON – During a visit to the Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced a $335,853 Recovery Act grant to assist approximately 125 workers affected by the closure of Atwood Mobile Products in West Union, Iowa.

WASHINGTON – During a visit to the Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced a $664,074 Recovery Act grant to assist approximately 121 workers affected by layoffs at the RR Donnelley print plant in Spencer, Iowa.

Training in other high growth industries also will be targeted

TOPEKA, Kan. – During a visit to the Shawnee County Community Health Center as a stop on the Obama administration's Rural Tour, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced a $220 million competition to fund projects that prepare workers for careers in the health care and other high growth industries.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that more than 900 workers from Delphi Steering in Saginaw, Mich., are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

"The Department of Labor is committed to supporting workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own and who are in need of retraining," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The support provided under the Trade Adjustment Assistance program will help get these auto workers back into good paying jobs."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $1,442,099 National Emergency Grant increment to continue clean-up and recovery efforts following a 2009 ice storm in Arkansas.

"Northern Arkansas is still working to clean up and recover from the destruction caused by a large ice storm in the winter of 2009," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will provide more funding to support continuing recovery efforts."