WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,341,383 National Emergency Grant to provide re-employment assistance for about 400 workers affected by layoffs from multiple environmental cleanup contractors including CH2MHILL Plateau Remediation Co., Materials and Energy Corp., Mission Support Alliance and 13 others – at the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Site in southeastern Washington.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a $16,532,485 National Emergency Grant supplement that will fund approximately 2,200 temporary jobs to assist with ongoing cleanup and recovery efforts following the tornado that devastated Joplin, Mo., on May 22, 2011, and storms that caused flooding in a number of Missouri counties between mid-April and early June 2011.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 359,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 364,000. The 4-week moving average was 365,000, a decrease of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average of 368,500.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a $1,045,616 National Emergency Grant to assist approximately 175 workers laid off by three contractors – Battelle Energy Alliance, Bechtel Bwxt Idaho LLC and CH2M WG Idaho LLC – working for the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

WASHINGTON – A $5 million National Emergency Grant has been awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry to provide re-employment services to about 1,000 workers affected by the closure of two oil refineries in the commonwealth. The refineries provided jobs at ConocoPhillips' Trainer facility and Sunoco Inc.'s Marcus Hook facility as well as for contractors who were employed at both locations.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $12 million in grants to provide workforce development and support services for formerly incarcerated adult and youth females as they make the transition from justice facilities back to their communities.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 348,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 353,000. The 4-week moving average was 355,000, a decrease of 1,250 from the previous week's revised average of 356,250.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $656,098 grant to provide employment-related assistance to about 150 workers laid off in November and December 2011 by window and door manufacturer Andersen Corp. A majority of the affected individuals worked at the company's Bayport, Minn., facility, and a few worked at the Renewal by Andersen facility in Cottage Grove, Minn.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a $2,285,489 supplemental National Emergency Grant to fund continuing recovery efforts following storms and flooding that affected southern Illinois in April and May 2011.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $20 million in grant funds to provide employment-related training and support services to youth who have been involved in the juvenile justice system. The purpose of these grants is to improve the long-term labor market prospects for former offenders, ages 14 and older, in high-poverty, high-crime areas by focusing on training for in-demand industries and occupations within their communities.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of nearly $60 million in grants for employment and training services through the Workforce Investment Act's Section 166 – Indian and Native Programs. The purposes of the grants are to develop the academic, occupational and literacy skills of the individuals served, making them more competitive in the workforce, as well as to promote the economic and social development of Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities in accordance with their own goals and values.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 351,000, a decrease of 14,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 365,000. The 4-week moving average was 355,750, unchanged from the previous week's revised average of 355,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending March 3, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.7 percent.

Resources promote claimant and employer compliance with state UI laws

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of new tools to support state agencies in detecting, preventing and recovering improper Unemployment Insurance payments as well as combating UI fraud.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 362,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 354,000. The 4-week moving average was 355,000, an increase of 250 from the previous week's revised average of 354,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.7 percent for the week ending February 25, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $346 million in grants through the Senior Community Service Employment Program to provide community service-based job training opportunities for unemployed older Americans.

"The job training programs funded through these grants will enhance employment opportunities for seniors through training while also linking them with businesses that are looking for qualified employees," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the availability of approximately $75 million in YouthBuild grant funds to develop programs that will help out-of-school youth complete high school or General Educational Development programs, as well as learn critical occupational skills in construction, health care, information technology and other fields.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending February 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 351,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 353,000. The 4-week moving average was 354,000, a decrease of 5,500 from the previous week's revised average of 359,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.7 percent for the week ending February 18, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

New resources and updates part of ongoing commitment to optimizing performance and customer service

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration today announced an annual change to allowable charges for meals and subsistence reimbursements, and a nonmaterial change to wage rate determinations for the H-2A worker program. Both notices will be published in the March 2 edition of the Federal Register and can be viewed at http://s.dol.gov/O9.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced an $8,563,333 National Emergency Grant increment to continue cleanup and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, which struck Puerto Rico in August 2011.

"Puerto Rico is still recovering from the damage and devastation of this massive storm," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The additional federal assistance announced today will enable the people of Puerto Rico to complete the hard work of cleanup and recovery."

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending February 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 351,000, unchanged from the previous week's revised figure of 351,000. The 4-week moving average was 359,000, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's revised average of 366,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.7 percent for the week ending February 11, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.