In the week ending March 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 213,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 1,000 from 213,000 to 214,000. The 4-week moving average was 212,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’saverage was revised up by 250 from 215,750 to 216,000.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $1,671,239 to the Nebraska Department of Labor to support employment and training services for eligible individuals in communities affected by the closure of the Tyson Foods Inc. beef processing plant in Lexington.On Jan. 20, 2026, Tyson Foods closed its beef processing plant in Lexington, resulting in the layoff of 3,200 workers. This is an unprecedented event for the Lexington community, affecting one-third of approximately 10,500 residents.Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, this National Dislocated Worker Grant will allow the Nebraska Department of Labor to provide training and skills development services for dislocated workers seeking assistance in Buffalo, Custer, Dawson, Frontier, Gosper, Lincoln, and Phelps counties.Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, National Dislocated Worker Grants provide a state or local board with funding for direct services and assistance in areas experiencing a major economic dislocation event that leads to workforce needs exceeding available resources. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $2 million to the Kentucky Department of Workforce Development to support employment and training services for eligible individuals in 25 counties impacted by mass layoffs and plant closures.Between August 2025 and March 2026, mass layoffs at Akebono Brake Corp., BlueOval SK, Fritz Winter North America LP, Kentucky Cooperage LP, Moveret Inc., and Russellville Engineered Castings Inc. have affected 2,414 workers. Given the significant number of mass layoffs and closures occurring at major manufacturing and advanced production facilities, the local labor market has a limited capacity to absorb these workers into similar jobs.Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, this National Dislocated Worker Grant will allow the Kentucky Department of Workforce Development to provide retraining and skills development services for dislocated workers seeking assistance in Allen, Barren, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Butler, Edmonson, Grayson, Hardin, Hart, Henry, Jefferson, LaRue, Logan, Marion, Meade, Metcalfe, Monroe, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, Simpson, Spencer, Trimble, Warren, and Washington counties.Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, National Dislocated Worker Grants provide a state or local board with funding for direct services and assistance in areas experiencing a major economic dislocation event that leads to workforce needs exceeding available resources. Explore Labor Department resources for job seekers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $2 million to the Kentucky Department of Workforce Development to support employment and training services for eligible individuals in 25 counties impacted by mass layoffs and plant closures.Between August 2025 and March 2026, mass layoffs at Akebono Brake Corp., BlueOval SK, Fritz Winter North America LP, Kentucky Cooperage LP, Moveret Inc., and Russellville Engineered Castings Inc. have affected 2,414 workers. Given the significant number of mass layoffs and closures occurring at major manufacturing and advanced production facilities, the local labor market has a limited capacity to absorb these workers into similar jobs.Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, this National Dislocated Worker Grant will allow the Kentucky Department of Workforce Development to provide retraining and skills development services for dislocated workers seeking assistance in Allen, Barren, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Butler, Edmonson, Grayson, Hardin, Hart, Henry, Jefferson, LaRue, Logan, Marion, Meade, Metcalfe, Monroe, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, Simpson, Spencer, Trimble, Warren, and Washington counties.Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, National Dislocated Worker Grants provide a state or local board with funding for direct services and assistance in areas experiencing a major economic dislocation event that leads to workforce needs exceeding available resources. Explore Labor Department resources for job seekers.

CALEXICO, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor has reached a settlement agreement with a Calexico-based freight and cargo service company after a federal investigation found the employer denied minimum wage and overtime pay to 24 workers, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The agreement follows an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division that found Expresso Forwarding Inc. and its affiliate, Agencia Aduanal Esquer Luken S.C., employed customs brokerage warehouse workers who traveled from Mexico to work at the company’s U.S. warehouse. The employers paid the workers in Mexican pesos at rates that equaled as little as $2.03 per hour, in violation of federal wage requirements. The investigation also found that workers were not paid required overtime rates for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.   “Employers operating in the U.S. must understand that regardless of where they are headquartered, workers who perform work on this side of the border must be paid in accordance with U.S. labor laws,” said Wage and Hour Division Administrator Andrew Rogers. “When a company pays wages in Mexican pesos that fall well below the U.S. minimum wage, it creates an unfair advantage over law-abiding employers and discourages U.S. workers from competing for those jobs. The Department of Labor will continue to use all legal avenues to ensure compliance in this industry.”  After negotiations with the Office of the Solicitor, the employer entered a settlement agreement with the department to pay $1.08 million in back wages and damages to the 24 employees and agreed to comply with the FLSA. Expresso Forwarding Inc. agreed to a payment plan scheduled from Jan. 15, 2026, to Dec. 15, 2026.  Over the last five years, the department’s Wage and Hour Division has recovered more than $4.8 million in back wages for more than 3,700 warehouse workers.  The FLSA requires that most employees be paid overtime at time and one-half their regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Employers and workers can call the division with questions and requests for compliance assistance at its toll-free helpline, 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Employers are encouraged to use the agency’s industry-specific compliance assistance toolkits to learn about their responsibilities under the laws enforced by the division. The agency’s PAID program offers employers an opportunity to self-report and resolve potential minimum wage and overtime violations under the FLSA, as well as certain potential violations under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division. Download the agency’s free timesheet app for iOS and Android devices to track hours and pay.   # # #