Unemployment Rate Hits 50-Year Low in September

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The unemployment rate, or the jobless rate, dropped 0.2 percentage points to 3.5 percent in September 2019, marking the lowest rate since December 1969, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). When discouraged workers and the underemployed are factored in, the rate has still declined 0.3 percentage points to 6.9 percent, matching its lowest in almost 19 years and near the all-time low of 6.8 percent. 

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DOL Announces $48.1 Million Grants for Homeless Veterans’ Workforce Reintegration

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According to a recent HUD report, veterans comprise a little under nine percent of all homeless adults in the U.S., and 37,878 of veterans were experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2018. Of these, 62 percent were staying in sheltered locations while 38 percent were staying in locations unsuitable for human habitation. 

To help homeless veterans reintegrate into the workforce in order to afford a stable home, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta announced that the Department of Labor is awarding 149 Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) grants worth a total of $48.1 million. These funds will be used towards workforce reintegration services for more than 18,000 homeless veterans. 

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DOL Announces $1.5 Million Fund for Women’s Apprenticeships & Job Opportunities

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The U.S. Department of Labor announced that $1.5 million in grant funding is available to help recruit, mentor and retain women in apprenticeship programs and help women pursue careers in manufacturing, infrastructure, cybersecurity, health care and other industries. The grant will be administered by the Department’s Women’s Bureau and the Employment and Training Administration.

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U.S. Department of Labor Introduces Mental Toolkit for Employers

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One in five American adults experiences a mental health condition each year, and work often plays a critical role in their wellness, states the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)’s Disability Employment Policy. To address this issue, the DOL recently introduced the Mental Health Toolkit, an online resource for employers to help them understand mental illnesses their employees might be dealing with and ways in which to create a supportive work environment.

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