Strong job gains and lower unemployment rate

Februarys jobs report exceeded expectations: A total of 678,000 jobs were added to the economy, and the unemployment rate fell to 3.8%. Job growth was widespread, with notable gains in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, health care, and construction. The economy has averaged a monthly gain of 582,000 jobs added over the past three months.

• Read the BLS report
• Read a statement from Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh

State of the Union highlights historic economic growth and a path toward more good jobs for Americas workers

In his State of the Union address, President Biden outlined his plans to continue building on the highest growth rate in nearly 40 years including boosting American manufacturing, lowering costs for families, and empowering workers to organize and collectively bargain. See some of the ways were supporting this effort and helping connect Americas workers with family-sustaining jobs.

• Our grants and apprenticeship advocacy efforts help connect workers to jobs in manufacturing and other rewarding industries.
• In February, we committed to supporting worker organizing and collective bargaining in a new report from the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment.
• Were bolstering Americas supply chains through the 90-day Trucking Apprenticeship Challenge.

Secretary Walsh and Vice President Harris on building talent and investing in workers

In North Carolina this week, Secretary Walsh and Vice President Kamala Harris highlighted the administration's historic workforce investments and what that means for Americas workers and families. Secretary Walsh announced the Strengthening Community Colleges grant program, a $45 million investment that will help community colleges provide skills training to connect working people to good, local, in-demand jobs. Read tweets from the trip.

Funding opportunities will help improve labor conditions, workplace safety and health, and skills development

We're offering millions of dollars in funding including:

• $12 million to help support labor law reform in Mexico
• $3.2 million for training and education to help identify and prevent work-related infectious diseases
• $45 million to help people in marginalized and underrepresented populations overcome barriers to access career and technical education programs

Take time, save lives

We saw an increase in mine fatalities and injuries in the past year, many of which could have been prevented with proper training and attention to tasks.

Interested in our grants? Start here.

Our grants connect, protect, train, support and empower workers and job seekers at home and abroad. Watch agency experts share what you need to know about our grants, and how to apply.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Workers Owed Wages

Our updated Workers Owed Wages search tool can help connect workers with back wages recovered by the Wage and Hour Division.

Hazard penalties

After an employees fatal fall through an unprotected skylight, a Long Island contractor and serial violator faces $1.2 million in penalties for 9 willful safety violations.

Equity grants

Weve awarded more than $20 million to help promote equitable access to state unemployment insurance systems.

Trucking apprenticeships

Secretary Walsh and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced a partnership with the American Trucking Associations to join the 90-Day Trucking Apprenticeship Challenge.

Suit filed

Weve filed suit to recover losses and hold an employee benefit plans fiduciaries accountable for more than $2.8 million after finding they allowed the misappropriation of fund assets.

Whistleblower protection

A private aviation provider must pay $958,000 in back wages and associated costs and correct misinformation about a former employee who faced retaliation after reporting safety issues.