April 21, 2021

US Department of Labor awards more than $146M to support workforce agencies’ efforts to return unemployed to workforce more quickly

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded more than $146 million to workforce agencies in 48 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia to operate their Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessments programs. 

April 20, 2021

US Department of Labor opens national dialogue to improve outreach to teens on workplace issues of safety, wages, job training, discrimination

WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor is extending an invitation to teens, parents, educators, employers and other interested stakeholders to join a national online dialogue through April 30 to gather ideas on how the department can connect with teens better.

April 16, 2021

US Department of Labor award of $382K grant will promote, enhance Maine Department of Labor’s Short-Time Compensation program

WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award a $382,579 grant to the Maine Department of Labor to promote and enhance its Short-Time Compensation program.

April 15, 2021

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending April 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 576,000, a decrease of 193,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020 when it was 256,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 25,000 from 744,000 to 769,000. The 4-week moving average was 683,000, a decrease of 47,250 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since March 14, 2020 when it was 225,500. The previous week's average was revised up by 6,500 from 723,750 to 730,250.

April 8, 2021

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending April 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 744,000, an increase of 16,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 9,000 from 719,000 to 728,000. The 4-week moving average was 723,750, an increase of 2,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 2,250 from 719,000 to 721,250.

April 7, 2021

US Department of Labor awards $725K to help at-risk workers overcome barriers to employment

WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $725,000 in grants to seven states and territories and the District of Columbia to expand their fidelity bonding programs, which support employers that hire workers considered “at-risk” due to prior involvement in the criminal justice system, as well as those in recovery for substance abuse. These workers often face barriers in their attempts to return to the workforce.

April 2, 2021

US Department of Labor publishes Request for Information for determining prevailing wages for certain immigrants, non-immigrants

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today published a Request for Information soliciting public input on the sources and methods for determining prevailing wage levels for the employment of certain immigrants and non-immigrant workers.

April 1, 2021

US Department of Labor awards initial $3.1M grant to support cleanup, employment, training services after Texas’ severe winter storms

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an initial award of $3,120,612 to the Texas Workforce Commission to provide employment and training services to communities affected by severe winter storms in February 2021. High winds, heavy snow and historically low temperatures knocked out power for millions of residents, and state officials estimate the storms led to nearly 60 deaths.    

April 1, 2021

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending March 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 719,000, an increase of 61,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 26,000 from 684,000 to 658,000. The 4-week moving average was 719,000, a decrease of 10,500 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since March 14, 2020 when it was 225,500. The previous week's average was revised down by 6,500 from 736,000 to 729,500.

March 25, 2021

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending March 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 684,000, a decrease of 97,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 11,000 from 770,000 to 781,000. The 4-week moving average was 736,000, a decrease of 13,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 2,750 from 746,250 to 749,000.

March 22, 2021

US Department of Labor announces $31M funding opportunity to create Registered Apprenticeship Technical Assistance Centers of Excellence

WASHINGTON, DCThe U.S. Department of Labor announced today the availability of approximately $31 million in funds to establish Registered Apprenticeship Technical Assistance Centers of Excellence to support the expansion and modernization of technical assistance available in the registered apprenticeship system.

March 22, 2021

US Department of Labor launches website for victims of unemployment fraud

WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor today launched a new website for people to understand unemployment insurance identity theft, and how and where to report stolen benefits if they are victims.

March 22, 2021

US Department of Labor announces proposed 18-month delay to prevailing wage rule affecting certain immigrants, non-immigrants

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced that it has proposed an 18-month delay in the effective date of a final rule on calculating prevailing wages of certain immigrants and non-immigrant workers.

March 18, 2021

US Department of Labor announces availability of $87.5M in funding to states to expand, diversify Registered Apprenticeship Programs

WASHINGTON, DCThe U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $87.5 million for grants to expand Registered Apprenticeships across the nation, with up to $40 million of those funds in grants awarded to states that implement required diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and demonstrate their commitment to adopt, expand and promote these efforts.

March 18, 2021

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending March 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 770,000, an increase of 45,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 13,000 from 712,000 to 725,000. The 4-week moving average was 746,250, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 3,250 from 759,000 to 762,250.

March 17, 2021

US Department of Labor announces $25M in funding to support education, employment training for workforce entry by justice-involved young adults

WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $25 million to fund grants to approximately six organizations to provide education and employment training to young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 who left high school before graduation, or are currently or have been involved previously with the juvenile or adult criminal justice system.

March 17, 2021

US Department of Labor awards $3.6M in incremental funding for grant providing employment, training services to respond to opioid crisis

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced incremental funding of $3,666,666, to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to continue providing services to communities statewide significantly affected by the health and economic impacts of widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose.

March 17, 2021

US Department of Labor awards $1.5M grant to support veterans transitioning to workforce in Texas communities struck hard by pandemic

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced funding of $1,561,667 for a National Dislocated Worker Grant for Adaptive Construction Solutions Inc. to support employment and training services to eligible transitioning military service members in Texas communities harmed significantly by the pandemic.

March 16, 2021

U.S. Department of Labor issues new guidance to states on implementing American Rescue Plan Act Unemployment Insurance provisions

WASHINGTON, DC – The signing of the American Rescue Plan Act significantly expanded the number of weeks that many workers will be able to collect pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits. Now, the U.S.