WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of nearly $68 million in grant funding to help 29 organizations in 20 states and territories connect job seekers to employment as the economy continues its recovery from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. The grant awards are part of a total $90 million in funding announced on Aug. 19, 2021.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor, in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Delta Regional Authority, today announced the award of $29,175,000 in grants to 23 organizations to provide employment and training services to regional and local workforces.

In the week ending September 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 351,000, an increase of 16,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 3,000 from 332,000 to 335,000. The 4-week moving average was 335,750, a decrease of 750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 750 from 335,750 to 336,500.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the appointments of 29 members to serve on the Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship, and provide advice and recommendations on issues related to Registered Apprenticeship.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced funding of $5 million to support disaster-relief employment and training for individuals to assist with clean up and recovery activities after Hurricane Ida made landfall in southern Louisiana as a Category 4 storm on Aug. 29.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced funding of $550,085 to support disaster-relief employment for individuals to assist with clean up and recovery, and provide employment and training services, after catastrophic rainfall on Aug. 21 led to flooding and extensive waterway damage in parts of the Middle Tennessee region.

In the week ending September 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 332,000, an increase of 20,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 310,000 to 312,000. The 4-week moving average was 335,750, a decrease of 4,250 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 500 from 339,500 to 340,000.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the supplemental award of $4 million, with $1.3 million released initially, to the Cherokee Nation to support continued disaster-relief employment and workforce development in response to the pandemic’s impacts on its people.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of funds to award up to four new contracts to Industry Intermediaries to launch, promote   and expand Registered Apprenticeship models in critical industries impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and industries that have not traditionally used apprenticeship to meet employer and sector needs.

In the week ending September 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 310,000, a decrease of 35,000 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 5,000 from 340,000 to 345,000. The 4-week moving average was 339,500, a decrease of 16,750 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 1,250 from 355,000 to 356,250.

WASHINGTON, DC– The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the 2021 National Apprenticeship Week will be celebrated Nov. 15-21. The weeklong celebration allows labor and business leaders, educational institutions, career seekers and other partners to demonstrate support for apprenticeships in preparing a highly skilled, diverse workforce to meet the talent needs of employers and train Americans for good-paying jobs across multiple industries.

In the week ending August 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 340,000, a decrease of 14,000 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 1,000 from 353,000 to 354,000. The 4-week moving average was 355,000, a decrease of 11,750 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 250 from 366,500 to 366,750.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the establishment of the Office of Unemployment Insurance Modernization to provide strategic leadership as the department works with state agencies and federal partners to modernize and reform the unemployment insurance system.

In the week ending August 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 353,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 348,000 to 349,000. The 4-week moving average was 366,500, a decrease of 11,500 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 up by 250 from 377,750 to 378,000.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of the first $22 million of a total of $90 million in funding to help nine organizations provide training and employment services for job seekers in historically marginalized communities as the economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic’s impacts.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of up to $3.5 million in grant funding to establish a centralized resource for sharing proven practices and technical assistance tools to strengthen and improve outcomes for the public workforce system.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of an increased $90 million in funding grants to provide reemployment opportunities for displaced workers, historically marginalized communities or groups and those unemployed for an extended period or who have exhausted unemployment insurance or other pandemic unemployment insurance programs.

In the week ending August 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 348,000, a decrease of 29,000 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 2,000 from 375,000 to 377,000. The 4-week moving average was 377,750, a decrease of 19,000 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 500 from 396,250 to 396,750.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $1,866,667 in incremental funding to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to support job creation and workforce training services in 13 counties affected significantly by widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of up to $5 million in grant funding to improve workers’ ability to exercise their labor rights in the agricultural supply chains in Guatemala and Honduras and the textile/apparel – or maquila – sector of El Salvador.