WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $52 million in grant funding for organizations that provide reentry services to incarcerated individuals before release from state correctional facilities or county or local jails. By eliminating gaps between release from prison or jail and enrollment in a workforce develop program, the funding will help enhance reintegration efforts and reduce recidivism. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an $85 million funding opportunity to support programs that provide skills training through work-based learning, employment services, educational support and mentorship to youth and young adults in communities affected by violence, crime and poverty. 

In the week ending January 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 224,000, an increase of 9,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 214,000 to 215,000. The 4-week moving average was 207,750, an increase of 5,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 202,250 to 202,500.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the incremental award of $800,000 to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security to support continued disaster-relief employment for residents of Mississippi as the state continues to recover from the severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes that killed 21 people and ravaged towns in March 2023. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an incremental award of $768,337 to support continued efforts to provide disaster-relief jobs and employment and training services for people in Massachusetts communities, helping to address the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose. 

In the week ending January 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 214,000, an increase of 25,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 187,000 to 189,000. The 4-week moving average was 202,250, a decrease of 1,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 203,250 to 203,750.

WASHINGTON –The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the second cohort of its Youth Systems Building Academy, an innovative effort to increase and enhance employment opportunities for youth. The 10 additional communities and their partners will receive individualized training and tailored technical assistance from the department to help develop, test, implement or scale systems that engage and support young people entering the workforce. 

In the week ending January 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 187,000, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since September 24, 2022 when it was 182,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 202,000 to 203,000. The 4-week moving average was 203,250, a decrease of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 207,750 to 208,000.

In the week ending January 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 202,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 202,000 to 203,000. The 4-week moving average was 207,750, a decrease of 250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 207,750 to 208,000.

In the week ending December 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 202,000, a decrease of 18,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 218,000 to 220,000. The 4-week moving average was 207,750, a decrease of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 212,000 to 212,500.

In the week ending December 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 218,000, an increase of 12,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 205,000 to 206,000. The 4-week moving average was 212,000, a decrease of 250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 212,000 to 212,250.

In the week ending December 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 205,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 202,000 to 203,000. The 4-week moving average was 212,000, a decrease of 1,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 213,250 to 213,500.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today published a Request for Information so the public can provide input on whether to revise the list of Schedule A job classifications that do not require permanent labor certifications.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an incremental award of more than $2.8 million to support continued efforts to provide disaster-relief employment and training services for Ohio communities affected by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose. 

In the week ending December 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 202,000, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 220,000 to 221,000. The 4-week moving average was 213,250, a decrease of 7,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 220,750 to 221,000.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a notice of proposed rulemaking to enhance the National Apprenticeship System by modernizing regulations for Registered Apprenticeships.

The proposed rule would include the following enhancements: 

In the week ending November 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 209,000, a decrease of 24,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 231,000 to 233,000. The 4-week moving average was 220,000, a decrease of 750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 220,250 to 220,750.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the publication of a final rule that revises federal regulations that govern the Employment Service, the nationwide system of public employment offices.