COVID-19 continues to affect economic recovery. The national unemployment rate fell in January to 6.3% – down from 6.7% the month before, according to figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This figure is 2.8% above the pre-pandemic February 2020 rate.
Additionally, hires in January totaled 49,000 workers. Economists had projected the addition of 50,000 jobs last month.
WorkingNation is always looking at stories addressing how different parts of the country are trying to get unemployed people back in the workforce.
Here is some of what we found this week:
From Arizona: Tucson.com reports Pima County has been awarded a $4M federal grant to fund job training in cybersecurity, manufacturing, and transportation.
From Colorado: CPR News reports an early childhood education workforce program is creating training opportunities for refugee and immigrant populations.
From Idaho: Idaho State Journal reports a company in Blackfoot is starting a paid welding apprenticeship program.
From Massachusetts: Worcester Business Journal reports Clark University has secured $10M in federal funds for workforce training in industries including IT, advanced manufacturing, and transportation.
From Missouri: KSDK reports that hundreds of fulltime and part-time jobs will open up when Amazon opens its new sorting center in Berkeley later this year.
From New Hampshire: WMUR reports Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center is using $2.5M in federal funding to reduce its health care workforce shortage.
From New York: Windpower reports the Offshore Wind Training Institute will train 2,500 workers for the jobs in the wind industry.
From Rhode Island: GoLocalProv reports the Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance is accepting internship applications for opportunities in cybersecurity, engineering and science, supply chain management, undersea technology, and more.
In Case You Missed It:
January 25: Back to Work: Opportunities in health care and medical science
January 11: Back to Work: Hiring and training across the country, including in the manufacturing sector
December 28: Back to Work: New jobs programs designed to help members of the military
December 21: Back to Work: Initiatives boost employment in construction, health care, alternative energy
December 14: Back to Work: The path from LPN to registered nurse
December 7: Back to Work: Opportunities include trainings, apprenticeships, and work-based learning
We’ll keep looking, so check back for more stories from around the country.
