WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 7,200 workers from companies in 17 states – Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Sept. 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 551,000, an increase of 17,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 534,000. The 4-week moving average was 548,000, a decrease of 6,250 from the previous week's revised average of 554,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.6 percent for the week ending Sept. 19, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.6 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $1,507,168 National Emergency Grant supplemental award to continue clean-up and recovery efforts in the wake of flooding that occurred in Ohio in 2007.

This funding will be awarded to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and be used to create more temporary jobs to assist in recovery and clean-up efforts as a result of the devastation caused by the flooding.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $430,417 grant to assist approximately 65 workers affected by May 2009 layoffs at two locations of the Standard Insurance Co. in Portland and South Portland, Maine.

"The economic downturn has had a disproportionate impact on the financial services industry," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will help affected workers retool their skills to successfully obtain employment in new careers or in similar occupations within other industries."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced three National Emergency Grants totaling $38,033,600 to assist workers affected by documented layoffs from multiple companies in three defined regional economies throughout Michigan. These grants will provide flexibility to serve 2,161 workers currently displaced and those affected by future layoffs occurring within these regions during the grants' 12-month period of performance. Based on state of Michigan estimates, about 13,291 total workers ultimately will be served.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,066,981 grant to assist approximately 300 workers affected by 2009 layoffs from RR Donnelley in Wells, Maine.

"The loss of a job is never easy, and these workers deserve our support as they seek re-employment," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will help individuals by providing the skills, retraining and job search assistance they need to obtain new jobs in high-growth and high-demand industries in the area."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $164.5 million to 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to make technology upgrades that will improve the operation and security of unemployment insurance systems.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Sept. 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 530,000, a decrease of 21,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 551,000. The 4-week moving average was 553,500, a decrease of 11,000 from the previous week's revised average of 564,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.6 percent for the week ending Sept. 12, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.7 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that workers from General Motors in Wilmington, Del., are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

"I know that so many Delaware families are hurting because of the auto layoffs throughout our state," said Vice President Joe Biden. "This announcement is a step forward and an opportunity for many Delawareans who lost their jobs at General Motors in Wilmington to re-enter the workforce in promising, regional industries."

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the success of the Summer Youth Employment Program for the nation's youth:

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $323,565 grant to assist workers affected by layoffs at NewPage Corp.'s Rumford Paper Mill in Rumford, Maine.

"Today's grant will provide employment-related services that are crucial to finding new jobs in burgeoning areas of the economy," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These workers deserve our support as they seek to upgrade existing skills, or prepare for new careers in promising regional industries."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 4,700 workers from companies in 13 states – Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Sept. 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 545,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 557,000. The 4-week moving average was 563,000, a decrease of 8,750 from the previous week's revised average of 571,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.7 percent for the week ending Sept. 5, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.6 percent.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Sept. 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 550,000, a decrease of 26,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 576,000. The 4-week moving average was 570,000, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average of 572,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.6 percent for the week ending Aug. 29, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.7 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $11,058,877 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of West Virginia. West Virginia qualified for a portion of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $42,489,921 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Colorado. Colorado qualified for a portion of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,096,423 grant to assist approximately 178 workers affected by layoffs at Alcoa North American Rolled Products in Bettendorf, Iowa, and John Deere Davenport Works in Davenport, Iowa.

"Iowa workers affected by these layoffs need and deserve support," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The grant announced today will provide retraining, job search assistance and other services to help them prepare for career track positions in promising regional industries."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $20,934,147 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of New Hampshire. New Hampshire qualified for the remaining two-thirds of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by making it easier for unemployed workers seeking part-time work and those unemployed for family reasons to be eligible for benefits.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Aug. 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 570,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 574,000. The 4-week moving average was 571,250, an increase of 4,000 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 Aug. 22, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.6 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $200,767,125 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Illinois. Illinois qualified for the remaining two-thirds of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by including certain family-friendly provisions in its UI law.