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.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a series of actions to modernize and reform a cornerstone of our economic infrastructure, the unemployment insurance system. Over the last year alone, the unemployment insurance system has helped nearly 53 million workers stay afloat during a pandemic and economic crisis and put nearly $800 billion into the economy – staving off an even deeper recession.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced funding of $1,016,923 to support disaster-relief employment for eligible individuals to assist with cleanup after severe storms in February and March caused flooding and extensive waterway damage in southwestern areas of West Virginia.

In the week ending July 31, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 385,000, a decrease of 14,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 1,000 from 400,000 to 399,000. The 4-week moving average was 394,000, a decrease of 250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 250 from 394,500 to 394,250.

In the week ending July 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 400,000, a decrease of 24,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 5,000 from 419,000 to 424,000. The 4-week moving average was 394,500, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,250 from 385,250 to 386,500.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $1,096,975 in funding to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development for job creation and workforce training in 25 counties affected significantly by widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $2,093,964 in incremental funding to the Maine Department of Labor to create jobs and provide employment services to eligible participants in nine counties significantly affected by widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $800,000 of incremental funding to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to support employment and training services for individuals affected by the closure of three manufacturing companies in Essex County.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $800,000 in incremental funding to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to support job creation and workforce training services for individuals significantly impacted by widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose in Bristol and Plymouth counties.

In the week ending July 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 419,000, an increase of 51,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 8,000 from 360,000 to 368,000. The 4-week moving average was 385,250, an increase of 750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 2,000 from 382,500 to 384,500.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $816,675 in incremental funding to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to support job creation and workforce training services in eight areas affected significantly by widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $3 million in grant funding to support progress on labor standards, including occupational safety and health, hours of work and wages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $92.6 million in funding to 47 states to provide training and employment services to eligible workers affected adversely by foreign trade.

In the week ending July 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 360,000, a decrease of 26,000 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 13,000 from 373,000 to 386,000. The 4-week moving average was 382,500, a decrease of 14,500 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 2,500 from 394,500 to 397,000.

In the week ending July 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 373,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 7,000 from 364,000 to 371,000. The 4-week moving average was 394,500, a decrease of 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 2,000 from 392,750 to 394,750.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the supplemental award of $798,246 to the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation to support workforce development to respond to the impacts of the pandemic on the state.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the availability of $5 million in grant funding to combat child and forced labor abuses in Malaysia’s palm oil and garment industries.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced incremental funding of $1,996,702 to members of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe in northwestern Washington to provide jobs, and employment and training services to individuals in communities impacted significantly by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of a $6,458,984 grant to the New York Department of Labor to improve its Short-Time Compensation program and promote its advantages to the state’s business community. Also known as work sharing, STC seeks to prevent layoffs by allowing an entire group of workers to receive a partial unemployment benefit payment while their employer reduces their hours.