BOISE, ID – The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into a settlement agreement with the owner of two Boise restaurants that failed to pay minimum wage and overtime to 388 workers, in violation of federal law. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of nearly $14 million in funding to support the development of programs aimed at reinvigorating and rebuilding the U.S. maritime industry and workforce.

FORT WORTH, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor has ordered Fort Worth-based trucking company Balkan Express LLC to reinstate and compensate a worker who was terminated after reporting safety concerns, in violation of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act, which protects commercial motor vehicle safety complaints.

PHOENIX – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment to recover $147,708 in back wages and liquidated damages for 61 roofers whose employer withheld overtime wages, in violation of federal law.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division today announced it has recovered more than $259 million in back wages for nearly 177,000 employees nationwide – an average of $1,465 per worker – in fiscal year 2025, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the American workforce.

In the week ending January 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 208,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 199,000 to 200,000. The 4-week moving average was 211,750, a decrease of 7,250 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since April 27, 2024 when it was 210,250. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 218,750 to 219,000.

FRESNO, CA – A federal court has ordered a California-based agriculture employer and its owners to pay back wages and penalties after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation determined the employer neglected to transport agricultural workers in safe vehicles, related to a deadly crash, a violation of federal law.

ESCONDIDO, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment requiring an Escondido drywall construction contractor to pay $790,000 in back wages, damages, and penalties after a federal investigation found the employer failed to pay the federally required minimum wage and overtime to 580 workers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today released a forecast notice announcing the upcoming availability of $145 million in funding to support a pay-for-performance incentive payments program to further expand the national apprenticeship system. 

The initiative, which represents the most significant investment taken to date in response to President Trump’s directive to meet and exceed 1 million active apprentices nationwide, is built on a pay-for-performance model, ensuring taxpayer dollars deliver measurable outcomes.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division today issued six opinion letters designed to promote clarity, consistency, and transparency in the application of federal labor standards under the Fair Labor Standards Act and Family and Medical Leave Act.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Employee Benefits Security Administration has expanded the Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program to cover Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements that missed their Form M-1 filing requirements. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $551,195 to Massachusetts to support employment and training services for workers affected by layoffs at The L.S. Starrett Co.

On June 30, 2025, The L.S. Starrett Co. – one of the region’s largest employers – laid off 78 manufacturing workers. Based in Athol, the precision measuring tool manufacturer’s downsizing significantly disrupted the northern Massachusetts rural labor market.

In the week ending December 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 199,000, a decrease of 16,000 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 218,750, an increase of 1,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 216,750 to 217,000.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $98 million in funding to support the development of pre-apprenticeships in high-demand industries including construction, advanced manufacturing, information technology, and healthcare.

In the week ending December 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 214,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 224,000. The 4-week moving average was 216,750, a decrease of 750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 217,500.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the rescission of regulations published by the previous administration in 2023 requiring contractors and subcontractors to give qualified employees the right of first refusal of employment with a successor contract. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the launch of its American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Inventive Fund, designed through a cooperative agreement with Arkansas, to support the expansion of advanced manufacturing Registered Apprenticeships nationwide.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. departments of Labor and Agriculture today announced a Memorandum of Understanding to maximize skills training and work opportunities for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants. The agreement, which will help states more effectively connect SNAP participants with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act job training programs, aims to help more low-income Americans find and maintain employment.

ROWLAND HEIGHTS, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $17,311 in back wages from a Rowland Heights restaurant for nine workers who were denied proper overtime and earned tips, in violation of federal wage laws.

In the week ending December 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 224,000, a decrease of 13,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 236,000 to 237,000. The 4-week moving average was 217,500, an increase of 500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 216,750 to 217,000.