United States Department of Labor:Job growth continues, support for opioid recovery and more

 

U.S. Department of Labor

February 4, 2022

+6.6 million jobs under Biden's leadership January's jobs report brought positive news: The economy added 467,000 jobs last month, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 4.0%. Over the last three months, the economy has added 541,000 jobs per month on average, with a total of 6.6 million since President Biden came into office. Read the BLS report Read a statement from Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh Honoring employers who hire our nation’s heroes Employers can now apply for the 2022 HIRE Vets Medallion Award, which recognizes employers that meet standards for excellence in recruiting, hiring and retaining America’s military veterans. How Job Corps is supporting Afghan refugees Job Corps is dedicated to helping all its students develop skills for good jobs and build lifelong relationships. When the Department of Homeland Security asked Job Corps staff to meet with newly arrived Afghan refugees as part of Operation Allies Welcome, they quickly stepped up. Supporting communities affected by the opioid crisis To combat the opioid crisis, we awarded more than $6 million in grants to support employment and training services around the country, including: $2.4 million for West Virginia $2 million for Maine $1.8 million for New York What you should know about our new Unemployment Insurance Navigator Grants $15 million in grants is available to help states collaborate with community and worker organizations to improve equity in their unemployment insurance systems, ensuring all workers have access to these critical benefits. States can apply for cooperative agreements to deliver timely unemployment benefits to all workers, particularly those who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by poverty and inequality. Union spotlight Earlier this week, Secretary Walsh asked his Twitter followers to share how their union has supported them. Read their union support stories or share your own. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Recovered wages A Pennsylvania home care agency must pay 491 workers more than $2.8 million in back wages and damages, plus $251,637 in penalties for wage violations. OLMS annual report See highlights from the Office of Labor-Management Standards’ work in 2021, and what it reveals about the state of the labor movement’s democratic and financial integrity. Protecting workers’ savings After our investigators found fiduciaries of a Michigan company failed to forward retirement contributions, a federal judge has ordered them to restore $50,764 and pay a $10,153 penalty. Wage enforcement We recovered $117,718 in back wages and liquidated damages for 33 workers after their employer, a Hawaii seafood trader, recklessly denied them overtime wages. Havana Syndrome claims New guidance from our Office of Workers' Compensation Programs will improve the claims process for federal workers affected by Havana Syndrome. HISTORY HIGHLIGHT Saluting Black workplace pioneers We’re recognizing some of the trailblazers who have created opportunities and improved the lives of generations of Americans.