Employment Situation Summary – On August 2, the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics released its July jobs report. According to the summary, the economy added 164,000 in July. Notable job gains occurred in professional and technical services, health care, social assistance, and financial activities. The unemployment rate held at 3.7 percent, and the number of unemployed persons was little changed at 6.1 million. Click here for full report.
Women’s Bureau Releases Redesigned Website – On August 1, the Women’s Bureau of the Department of Labor (WB-DOL) announced that it has recently updated and redesigned its website. As part of the redesign, the website now includes a section “Meetings in a Box”, which the WB-DOL plans to use to share important updates and resources for women who are looking to enter the workforce and develop professionally. Click here to see new design.
Acting Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella Encourages Governors to Collect Data on State Workers with Disabilities to Promote Hiring – On July 31, Acting Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella requested the governors of each state to collect data on the number of state employees with disabilities and compare data with other states. While not mandatory, tracking employment data for employees with disabilities allows states to make more informed decisions about disability hiring practices within their state. Acting Secretary Pizzella also requested that the governors make use of the State Exchange on Employment and Disability, which “provides direct policy assistance, resources, and subject-matter expertise to state governors’ offices and legislatures on various disability employment-related issues.” Click here for full press release.
New Online Toolkit Helps Employers to Ensure Workplaces are Inclusive of People with Disabilities – On July 26, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced the release of a new online toolkit that is intended to help employers ensure that they are following the Americans with Disabilities Act and complying with other relevant guidelines in their workplaces. The toolkit was developed by the Job Accommodation Network, which was sponsored by the DOL’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. Click here for online toolkit.
Women’s Bureau Announces RESTORE Grant Program – On July 24, the WB-DOL announced a new grant program entitled Re-Employment, Support, and Training for the Opioid Related Epidemic. The grant program seeks to provide organizations with $2.5 million to assist women who have been affected by the opioid epidemic with reentering the workforce. Between four to eight grants will be awarded to state governments and outlying areas, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, and state/local workforce development boards. Click here for full announcement and here to apply for a grant.
Department of Labor Awards $11.1 Million in Workforce Data Grants – On July 22, the DOL awarded Workforce Data Quality Initiative (WDQI) grants to nine State Workforce Agencies, as well as one WDQI grant to the Texas Workforce Commission. These grants provide funds that will allow states to improve their state workforce data systems and workforce programs. Click here for list of grant awardees.