Labor Laws & Money Blog

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Departments of Labor and Education provided an update today on the Trump Administration’s historic actions to integrate the federal government’s workforce development portfolio, announcing that the departments transitioned the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act state plan portal to the Labor Department to streamline federal workforce development programs. The move allows the departments of Labor and Education to jointly administer core WIOA programs, including adult education and family literacy programs. Subsequent efforts will focus on integrating the Perkins state plan portal into the WIOA state plan portal so states with combined WIOA state plans will be able to submit information through a single portal.Since Oct. 1, the joint agencies have successfully processed nearly 800 payment requests from 43 unique states and territories and onboarded all grantees to GrantSolutions and Payment Management Systems, which are the grant and payment management systems used by the majority of all federal agencies.The departments are also synchronizing the timeline for submitting the 2026 WIOA State Plan modifications and will provide joint feedback on submissions. On Nov. 25, 2025, the department issued guidance to governors and workforce boards, in collaboration with the Department of Education’s Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, related to available WIOA waiver and flexibility options, which also included recommendations for further integrating Perkins’ career and technical education programs into the public workforce system.“The Department of Labor is committed to working closely with the Department of Education to reduce federal bureaucracy and better integrate our education and workforce development systems,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Lori Frazier Bearden. “We’re off to a strong start, already delivering targeted resources so states can develop clear pathways from education to good-paying jobs. Our success proves that streamlining resources and empowering states lead to better results for both taxpayers and job seekers.”“This successful workforce partnership is proof that the Department of Labor is well-positioned to co-administer, implement, and streamline CTE and adult education programs to better meet the needs of Americans,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education Nick Moore. “With the ability to more easily and efficiently administer their programs, states across the country are already seeing positive results. Commonsense reforms work, and I’m proud to work alongside the experienced team at Labor to build the talent pipeline for the Golden Age of America.”This workforce partnership builds on the work of several innovative states and governors, such as Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Utah, among others, who have reduced duplication and increased efficiency by harmonizing and coordinating state agencies focused on education and workforce development.Here’s what workforce leaders are saying:Alabama Governor Kay Ivey: “Alabama has positioned itself to be on the cutting edge of workforce innovations and opportunities because of remarkable coordination and collaboration. The newly formed Alabama Department of Workforce's mission is to elevate Alabama’s talent pipeline to benefit our state’s workforce future by connecting our incredible partners in education to industry demand. This new effort to streamline governmental programming by the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Education will help promote that future by meeting the needs of Alabamians more effectively and efficiently. We are excited to do our part in leading the implementation of this new initiative and continue working with our partners to ensure its continued success.”Georgia Governor Brian Kemp: “In Georgia, my administration is building career pathways that connect K-12, CTE, workforce, and postsecondary programs to provide an integrated talent system designed to meet the needs of employers, jobseekers, and students. President Trump’s efforts to integrate Perkins CTE and adult education into the public workforce system is a long overdue, and commonsense reform that will bolster our state efforts.”Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves: "Mississippi is ahead of the curve when it comes to training people for the jobs of the future. I signed legislation that created the Office of Workforce Development (AccelerateMS) and overhauled our workforce development strategy. We’re already seeing that legislation bear fruit. Our state’s strategy aligns with the needs of the private sector, and we’re training Mississippians for jobs that pay above average wages and are in high demand. It’s a big reason we’re breaking so many economic development records. What a lot of states have lacked up until now is clarity from the federal government and the flexibility to let states lead. The steps the Trump administration and Secretary McMahon are taking to align workforce and education programs are giving states the room to solve problems, rather than forcing them to navigate bureaucracy. If we can stay focused on policy and outcomes at the federal level while allowing states and local leaders to drive implementation, we can build the kind of demand-driven, accountable workforce system America has needed for decades."Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen: “President Trump is leading the way – streamlining the federal government and helping states more easily invest in the next generation of our workforces. Directing federal agencies to partner and provide commonsense solutions helps states like Nebraska leverage all of our resources. We can’t thank the Trump Administration enough for their steadfast support and ongoing willingness to innovate and find ways to make government effective at the state level.”Jimmy Baker, Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System: “The Alabama Community College System is proud to serve as the state’s premier provider of education and workforce training. Across our colleges, we continue to innovate to meet the needs of students, employers, and communities, and our Innovation Center’s short-term ‘Skills for Success’ courses are a powerful example of that commitment. These programs provide rapid, high-quality training that connects learners to genuine opportunities and supports employers with job-ready talent. As federal efforts move toward stronger alignment between Perkins CTE, Adult Education, and the public workforce system, Alabama stands ready. Our system has already demonstrated how integrated planning and collaborative partnerships can elevate outcomes. The continued progress at the national level will further empower the work already underway across our colleges to build a skilled, competitive workforce for our state.”Dr. Eric Mackey, Alabama State Superintendent of Education: “We appreciate the U.S. Department of Education’s efforts to better align Perkins career and technical education funds and the public workforce system as we continue to work improve students’ academic and technical skills so Alabama students are prepared for high-demand careers when they graduate and enter the workforce. Since first combining our Perkins and WIOA plans in 2020, Alabama has made significant progress in workforce development and has led the way nationally through this innovative consolidation and integration of its Perkins and WIOA plans into a single, cohesive vision for workforce and talent development in our state. By working together with our partner agencies including the Department of Workforce and the State Workforce Board, we are building a stronger, more connected workforce pipeline for students, job seekers, and employers.”Courtney Taylor, Executive Director of Accelerate Mississippi: “For too long, workforce and education programs have been treated as separate silos – and it resulted in slow and duplicative programs that were disconnected from what employers actually need. States know how to build talent pipelines because they directly interact and work with businesses and communities every day. I welcome the administration’s effort to bring Perkins and the workforce system together and put decision-making closer to the people who feel the impact. When we can remove red tape and trust states to lead, we deliver tangible results: stronger employers, more skilled workers, and a more competitive America.”On May 21, the departments of Labor and Education signed an Economy Act (31 U.S.C. § 1535) Interagency Agreement that permits federal agencies to procure goods and services from other federal agencies. Under the agreement, the Labor Department will perform certain day-to-day administrative services for the Education Department’s CTE and WIOA Title II programs alongside the larger suite of workforce programs that the Labor Department already administers. The Department of Education will maintain all statutory responsibilities for these programs, including policymaking, program determinations, and oversight responsibilities.   On July 15, the departments announced the implementation of a workforce development partnership to better integrate the federal education and workforce systems. On September 8, the agencies launched an integrated WIOA state plan portal at the Labor Department to streamline these programs, allowing the Departments of Labor and Education to more easily coordinate administration of the core WIOA programs, including adult education and literacy programs. On September 26, 2025, OCTAE’s FY24 and FY25 Perkins V and Adult Education Basic Grants were reactivated through the Department of Labor’s GrantSolutions and the Payment Management System, just 15 days after the transition process began.

In the week ending November 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 191,000, a decrease of 27,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since September 24, 2022 when it was 189,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 216,000 to 218,000. The 4-week moving average was 214,750, a decrease of 9,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 223,750 to 224,250.

ATLANTA – U.S. Department of Labor safety investigators have determined that an engineering and construction company exposed workers to safety hazards after an investigation into a worker fatality at the Hanwa Q Cells Georgia Inc. plant in White, Georgia.OSHA issued Hyoungwon E&C America Inc. a citation with a serious violation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s general duty clause for failing to protect employees against asphyxiation hazards related to nitrogen gas and another serious violation for not providing effective information and training on hazards related to nitrogen gas and oxygen-deficient atmospheres. The employer faces $20,522 in proposed penalties.The company has 15 business days from receipt of their citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Penalties and citations may be adjusted throughout the course of the case process. Please check the OSHA establishment search page periodically for any changes in the inspection or penalty status.Visit OSHA’s website for information on developing a workplace safety and health program. Employers can also contact the agency for information about OSHA’s compliance assistance resources and for free help on complying with OSHA standards.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has resumed normal enforcement operations and is working diligently to continue its mission to ensure safe and healthy working conditions free from unlawful retaliation, while also helping employers reduce job hazards following a lapse in appropriations. During the lapse in appropriations, OSHA received safety and health complaints that did not meet criteria for excepted activity and, therefore, were not processed upon receipt. The agency is now actively addressing the backlog of complaints, which may be processed via informal inquiry, and OSHA will respond as quickly as possible. Individuals do not need to resubmit their complaints.Additionally, OSHA has extended the time employers have to respond to citations issued immediately prior to or during the government shutdown. Shutdown days do not count as “working days.” For employers whose citations were issued and/or received between October 1 and November 12, 2025, OSHA tolled the 15-day contest period due to the lapse in appropriations. These contest periods are now extended through December 4, 2025. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, a company has 15 working days from receipt of their citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Penalties and citations may be adjusted throughout the course of the case process. Please check the OSHA establishment search page periodically for any changes in the inspection or penalty status.Visit OSHA’s website for information about the inspection process. Employers can also contact the agency for information about OSHA’s compliance assistance resources and for free help on complying with OSHA standards. 

In the week ending November 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 216,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 220,000 to 222,000. The 4-week moving average was 223,750, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 224,250 to 224,750.