Widespread economic growth continues, empowering workers, innovation and more

Widespread economic growth continues

The economy added 428,000 jobs in April, including notable gains in leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, and transportation and warehousing. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6% - just 0.1 percentage point above its pre-pandemic level.

Empowering workers

Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh hosted a meeting at the White House with worker organizers to discuss efforts to organize unions in workplaces, and how their efforts can inspire workers across the nation to make the choice to join or organize a union.

Innovation + education = economic acceleration

In Ohio last week, Secretary Walsh joined a roundtable on how the Bipartisan Innovation Act will help create a skilled talent pipeline to strengthen U.S. manufacturing, promote STEM education and equity, and accelerate regional economic growth. He also traveled to Virginia this week, where he met with Rep. Bobby Scott and discussed the value of workforce training at Thomas Nelson Community College, which is using department grant funding to expand job training programs. In Oklahoma, Secretary Walsh and Rep. Tom Cole visited Tinker Air Force Base and discussed the importance of funding unique workforce initiatives.

Stand-Down for Safety in Construction

OSHA recognized National Construction Safety Week with its annual Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction. The Wage and Hour Division issued new compliance assistance materials, including a toolkit in English and Spanish to help construction workers understand their rights and inform employers about their legal obligations and a webpage on Davis-Bacon Act worker protections for projects created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure law.

#MentalHealthAtWork

This week, Secretary Walsh and Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra kicked off Mental Health Awareness Month by meeting with health insurance industry leaders to highlight the Biden-Harris administrations focus on parity for mental health and substance use disorder benefits, and to discuss meaningful progress toward reaching that goal.

Making the Business Case for Good Jobs

Secretary Walsh will host a discussion with American Sustainable Business Network President David Levine and business owners about the departments Good Jobs Initiative and how private sector employers can recruit, retain and strengthen their workforce through improved job quality. Watch the discussion at dol.gov/live on May 13 at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Funding available to support the economic advancement of people with disabilities

Were making $8 million in funding available over four years to advance equitable and inclusive workforce service delivery for people with disabilities.

#HurricanePreparednessWeek

During Hurricane Preparedness Week, OSHA offered guidance on preparing for dangerous weather events, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics highlighted occupations related to storm prep and recovery.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Conciliation agreement

The department and LinkedIn Corp. have entered into a conciliation agreement to resolve allegations of systemic, gender-based pay discrimination at two facilities.

$20M in grants

Weve awarded more than $20 million in equity grant funding to state unemployment insurance systems in Indiana, Kentucky, Utah and Washington.

Veteran career partners

Seven organizations have agreed to join our Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot, which provides career assistance to transitioning service members and their spouses.

Severe Violator Program

OSHA placed a Missouri recycling facility in its Severe Violator Program after finding it exposed workers to fall and machinery hazards.

Improving FECA claims

Weve announced policy changes aimed at streamlining claims processing for federal firefighters with certain occupational illnesses.

Fall safety

OSHA has proposed $793,290 in fines for a Philadelphia roofing contractor who exposed workers to fall hazards at five New Jersey locations.

EMPLOYER RESOURCES

Own a Small Business? Were Here to Help

In recognition of National Small Business Week, weve compiled some of our most helpful resources for ensuring your small business is a great place to work and that it is staying on track with the law.