--- source: U.S. Department of Labor url: https://www.dol.gov/ui/data.pdf document_type: pdf date_retrieved: 2026-04-09 period: Week ending April 4, 2026 (initial claims and 4-week average); Week ending March 28, 2026 (continuing claims) parent_publication: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims indicators_covered: - Initial Jobless Claims - Jobless Claims 4-week Average - Continuing Jobless Claims --- # Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims **Release:** Thursday, April 9, 2026 (Embargoed until 8:30 A.M. Eastern) ```text Connect with DOL at News Release https://blog.dol.gov TRANSMISSION OF MATERIALS IN THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL 8:30 A.M. (Eastern) Thursday, April 9, 2026 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending April 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 219,000, an increase of 16,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 202,000 to 203,000. The 4-week moving average was 209,500, an increase of 1,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 207,750 to 208,000. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.2 percent for the week ending March 28, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending March 28 was 1,794,000, a decrease of 38,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for insured unemployment since May 11, 2024 when it was 1,791,000. The previous week's level was revised down by 9,000 from 1,841,000 to 1,832,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,823,250, a decrease of 13,250 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since June 8, 2024 when it was 1,815,750. The previous week's average was revised down by 2,250 from 1,838,750 to 1,836,500. 1 UNADJUSTED DATA The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 202,895 in the week ending April 4, an increase of 16,637 (or 8.9 percent) from the previous week. The seasonal factors had expected an increase of 1,828 (or 1.0 percent) from the previous week. There were 216,534 initial claims in the comparable week in 2025. The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.3 percent during the week ending March 28, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted level of insured unemployment in state programs totaled 1,928,053, a decrease of 78,508 (or -3.9 percent) from the preceding week. The seasonal factors had expected a decrease of 36,650 (or -1.8 percent) from the previous week. A year earlier the rate was 1.3 percent and the volume was 1,985,730. The total number of continued weeks claimed for benefits in all programs for the week ending March 21 was 2,040,881, a decrease of 26,853 from the previous week. There were 2,089,023 weekly claims filed for benefits in all programs in the comparable week in 2025. No state was triggered "on" the Extended Benefits program during the week ending March 21. Initial claims for UI benefits filed by former Federal civilian employees totaled 580 in the week ending March 28, a decrease of 42 from the prior week. There were 395 initial claims filed by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 46 from the preceding week. There were 11,089 continued weeks claimed filed by former Federal civilian employees the week ending March 21, an increase of 9 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 4,695, an increase of 122 from the prior week. 2 The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending March 21 were in Rhode Island (2.7), Massachusetts (2.6), New Jersey (2.6), Minnesota (2.3), Washington (2.3), California (2.1), Illinois (2.0), New York (2.0), Michigan (1.9), Oregon (1.9), Montana (1.8), and Puerto Rico (1.8). The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending March 28 were in Texas (+1,952), New York (+1,236), Oregon (+1,091), Wisconsin (+804), and Illinois (+721), while the largest decreases were in Michigan (-2,751), Georgia (-1,059), Iowa (-1,057), Pennsylvania (-598), and Massachusetts (-459). 3 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS WEEK ENDING April 4 March 28 Change March 21 Prior Year1 Initial Claims (SA) 219,000 203,000 +16,000 211,000 223,000 Initial Claims (NSA) 202,895 186,258 +16,637 186,777 216,534 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 209,500 208,000 +1,500 210,750 223,000 WEEK ENDING March 28 March 21 Change March 14 Prior Year1 Insured Unemployment (SA) 1,794,000 1,832,000 -38,000 1,816,000 1,852,000 Insured Unemployment (NSA) 1,928,053 2,006,561 -78,508 2,033,954 1,985,730 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 1,823,250 1,836,500 -13,250 1,846,250 1,867,250 Insured Unemployment Rate (SA)2 1.2% 1.2% 0.0 1.2% 1.2% Insured Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 1.3% 1.3% 0.0 1.3% 1.3% INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED) WEEK ENDING March 28 March 21 Change Prior Year1 Federal Employees (UCFE) 580 622 -42 508 Newly Discharged Veterans (UCX) 395 349 +46 384 CONTINUED WEEKS CLAIMED FILED FOR UI BENEFITS IN ALL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED) WEEK ENDING March 21 March 14 Change Prior Year1 Regular State 1,999,697 2,027,743 -28,046 2,052,390 Federal Employees 11,089 11,080 +9 7,721 Newly Discharged Veterans 4,695 4,573 +122 4,361 Extended Benefits3 31 82 -51 116 State Additional Benefits4 3,679 3,620 +59 3,026 STC / Workshare 5 21,690 20,636 +1,054 21,409 TOTAL 2,040,881 2,067,734 -26,853 2,089,023 FOOTNOTES SA - Seasonally Adjusted Data, NSA - Not Seasonally Adjusted Data Continued weeks claimed represent all weeks of benefits claimed during the week being reported, and do not represent weeks claimed by unique individuals. 1. Prior year is comparable to most recent data. 2. Most recent week used covered employment of 153,398,888 as denominator. 3. Information on the EB program can be found here: EB Program information 4. Some states maintain additional benefit programs for those claimants who exhaust regular benefits, and when applicable, extended benefits. Information on states that participate, and the extent of benefits paid, can be found starting on page 4-5 of this link: Extensions and Special Programs PDF 5. Information on STC/Worksharing can be found starting on page 4-11 of the following link: Extensions and Special Programs PDF 4 Advance State Claims - Not Seasonally Adjusted Initial Claims Filed During Week Ended April 4 Insured Unemployment For Week Ended March 28 STATE Advance Prior Wk Change Advance Prior Wk Change Alabama 1,613 1,594 19 6,839 7,557 -718 Alaska 490 445 45 4,610 4,804 -194 Arizona 2,824 2,654 170 15,896 18,033 -2,137 Arkansas 1,202 1,400 -198 4,800 4,601 199 California 40,590 38,010 2,580 373,794 381,545 -7,751 Colorado 3,575 2,661 914 33,329 33,247 82 Connecticut 2,459 2,400 59 28,152 29,455 -1,303 Delaware 232 448 -216 9,913 5,506 4,407 District of Columbia 643 470 173 8,298 7,648 650 Florida 5,394 5,110 284 26,068 29,493 -3,425 Georgia 3,339 3,751 -412 23,030 25,592 -2,562 Hawaii 1,147 1,548 -401 5,727 6,349 -622 Idaho 725 733 -8 6,536 7,940 -1,404 Illinois 9,783 8,106 1,677 113,291 117,364 -4,073 Indiana 2,744 2,279 465 21,226 21,974 -748 Iowa 1,307 1,409 -102 12,198 16,547 -4,349 Kansas 1,038 993 45 8,147 7,955 192 Kentucky 1,011 1,400 -389 11,742 16,369 -4,627 Louisiana 801 1,225 -424 4,917 6,077 -1,160 Maine 601 557 44 9,223 9,176 47 Maryland 2,957 2,079 878 24,108 24,906 -798 Massachusetts 4,566 3,844 722 88,673 92,258 -3,585 Michigan 4,866 4,756 110 74,188 80,720 -6,532 Minnesota 3,734 3,947 -213 66,089 65,872 217 Mississippi 826 754 72 5,213 5,683 -470 Missouri 2,434 2,931 -497 16,490 18,143 -1,653 Montana 546 514 32 7,999 9,008 -1,009 Nebraska 571 538 33 5,973 6,905 -932 Nevada 2,689 2,350 339 25,570 25,593 -23 New Hampshire 390 431 -41 3,667 4,624 -957 New Jersey 13,374 8,042 5,332 106,037 110,971 -4,934 New Mexico 868 787 81 10,544 10,595 -51 New York 13,520 14,935 -1,415 186,693 192,113 -5,420 North Carolina 2,882 2,899 -17 18,177 19,274 -1,097 North Dakota 221 293 -72 5,484 5,467 17 Ohio 5,272 4,874 398 52,273 55,998 -3,725 Oklahoma 1,510 1,458 52 10,246 10,489 -243 Oregon 8,641 5,915 2,726 43,215 37,430 5,785 Pennsylvania 10,922 8,441 2,481 92,477 98,924 -6,447 Puerto Rico 688 910 -222 12,896 16,242 -3,346 Rhode Island 550 740 -190 12,360 13,184 -824 South Carolina 1,894 1,804 90 13,451 14,330 -879 South Dakota 145 165 -20 2,487 2,684 -197 Tennessee * 4,981 3,421 1,560 15,761 16,188 -427 Texas 16,046 17,488 -1,442 142,874 152,534 -9,660 Utah 1,646 1,342 304 12,912 13,594 -682 Vermont 353 303 50 3,677 3,650 27 Virgin Islands 11 6 5 142 224 -82 Virginia 2,599 2,250 349 21,045 19,745 1,300 Washington * 6,536 5,499 1,037 81,707 82,924 -1,217 West Virginia 545 557 -12 7,026 7,236 -210 Wisconsin 4,317 4,471 -154 28,162 29,430 -1,268 Wyoming 277 321 -44 2,701 2,391 310 US Total 202,895 186,258 16,637 1,928,053 2,006,561 -78,508 Note: Advance claims are not directly comparable to claims reported in prior weeks. Advance claims are reported by the state liable for paying the unemployment compensation, whereas previous weeks reported claims reflect claimants by state of residence. In addition, claims reported as "workshare equivalent" in the previous week are added to the advance claims as a proxy for the current week's "workshare equivalent" activity. *Denotes OUI estimate. 5 Seasonally Adjusted US Weekly UI Claims (in thousands) Change Change from from Initial Prior 4-Week Insured Prior 4-Week Week Ending Claims Week Average Unemployment Week Average IUR March 29, 2025 220 -4 222.75 1,852 -37 1,867.25 1.2 April 5, 2025 223 3 223.00 1,876 24 1,867.25 1.2 April 12, 2025 217 -6 221.00 1,840 -36 1,864.25 1.2 April 19, 2025 224 7 221.00 1,906 66 1,868.50 1.3 April 26, 2025 239 15 225.75 1,876 -30 1,874.50 1.2 May 3, 2025 228 -11 227.00 1,884 8 1,876.50 1.2 May 10, 2025 226 -2 229.25 1,889 5 1,888.75 1.2 May 17, 2025 225 -1 229.50 1,917 28 1,891.50 1.3 May 24, 2025 236 11 228.75 1,896 -21 1,896.50 1.2 May 31, 2025 244 8 232.75 1,947 51 1,912.25 1.3 June 7, 2025 246 2 237.75 1,935 -12 1,923.75 1.3 June 14, 2025 243 -3 242.25 1,960 25 1,934.50 1.3 June 21, 2025 236 -7 242.25 1,954 -6 1,949.00 1.3 June 28, 2025 231 -5 239.00 1,952 -2 1,950.25 1.3 July 5, 2025 228 -3 234.50 1,949 -3 1,953.75 1.3 July 12, 2025 221 -7 229.00 1,941 -8 1,949.00 1.3 July 19, 2025 218 -3 224.50 1,936 -5 1,944.50 1.3 July 26, 2025 219 1 221.50 1,963 27 1,947.25 1.3 August 2, 2025 226 7 221.00 1,942 -21 1,945.50 1.3 August 9, 2025 224 -2 221.75 1,957 15 1,949.50 1.3 August 16, 2025 233 9 225.50 1,942 -15 1,951.00 1.3 August 23, 2025 229 -4 228.00 1,937 -5 1,944.50 1.3 August 30, 2025 236 7 230.50 1,927 -10 1,940.75 1.3 September 6, 2025 259 23 239.25 1,925 -2 1,932.75 1.3 September 13, 2025 233 -26 239.25 1,916 -9 1,926.25 1.3 September 20, 2025 219 -14 236.75 1,921 5 1,922.25 1.3 September 27, 2025 225 6 234.00 1,929 8 1,922.75 1.3 October 4, 2025 233 8 227.50 1,928 -1 1,923.50 1.3 October 11, 2025 222 -11 224.75 1,947 19 1,931.25 1.3 October 18, 2025 231 9 227.75 1,953 6 1,939.25 1.3 October 25, 2025 221 -10 226.75 1,962 9 1,947.50 1.3 November 1, 2025 228 7 225.50 1,946 -16 1,952.00 1.3 November 8, 2025 228 0 227.00 1,949 3 1,952.50 1.3 November 15, 2025 222 -6 224.75 1,943 -6 1,950.00 1.3 November 22, 2025 218 -4 224.00 1,932 -11 1,942.50 1.3 November 29, 2025 216 -2 221.00 1,894 -38 1,929.50 1.2 December 6, 2025 235 19 222.75 1,887 -7 1,914.00 1.2 December 13, 2025 224 -11 223.25 1,910 23 1,905.75 1.2 December 20, 2025 215 -9 222.50 1,860 -50 1,887.75 1.2 December 27, 2025 203 -12 219.25 1,900 40 1,889.25 1.2 January 3, 2026 207 4 212.25 1,875 -25 1,886.25 1.2 January 10, 2026 201 -6 206.50 1,865 -10 1,875.00 1.2 January 17, 2026 210 9 205.25 1,823 -42 1,865.75 1.2 January 24, 2026 211 1 207.25 1,842 19 1,851.25 1.2 January 31, 2026 230 19 213.00 1,859 17 1,847.25 1.2 February 7, 2026 230 0 220.25 1,865 6 1,847.25 1.2 February 14, 2026 208 -22 219.75 1,827 -38 1,848.25 1.2 February 21, 2026 211 3 219.75 1,871 44 1,855.50 1.2 February 28, 2026 214 3 215.75 1,847 -24 1,852.50 1.2 March 7, 2026 213 -1 211.50 1,851 4 1,849.00 1.2 March 14, 2026 205 -8 210.75 1,816 -35 1,846.25 1.2 March 21, 2026 211 6 210.75 1,832 16 1,836.50 1.2 March 28, 2026 203 -8 208.00 1,794 -38 1,823.25 1.2 April 4, 2026 219 16 209.50 6 INITIAL CLAIMS FILED DURING WEEK ENDED INSURED UNEMPLOYMENT FOR WEEK ENDED MARCH 28 MARCH 21 CHANGE FROM CHANGE FROM TOTAL LAST YEAR LAST YEAR INSURED STATE NAME STATE WEEK AGO UCFE 1 UCX 1 STATE (%) 2 WEEK AGO UCFE 1 UCX 1 UNEMPLOYMENT Alabama 1,594 18 -64 8 5 7,557 0.4 -193 -768 56 18 7,631 Alaska 445 -36 -34 2 0 4,804 1.5 -184 -131 63 2 4,869 Arizona 2,654 128 -604 3 3 18,033 0.6 261 -5,982 47 36 18,116 Arkansas 1,400 52 -112 1 0 4,601 0.4 32 -2,415 15 5 4,621 California 38,010 191 -3,216 122 70 381,545 2.1 -7,519 -48,631 1,756 1,238 384,539 Colorado 2,661 47 117 5 16 33,247 1.2 -573 1,270 277 208 33,732 Connecticut 2,400 -352 102 5 3 29,455 1.7 -1,213 340 52 27 29,534 Delaware 448 200 228 2 3 5,506 1.2 -463 257 23 3 5,532 District of Columbia 470 -91 -373 33 0 7,648 1.4 -69 -3,280 1,046 4 8,698 Florida 5,110 -288 -477 24 23 29,493 0.3 -422 -2,895 175 60 29,728 Georgia 3,751 -1,059 -675 45 24 25,592 0.5 -1,736 -4,414 270 88 25,950 Hawaii 1,548 -49 501 0 5 6,349 1.0 201 900 60 58 6,467 Idaho 733 -207 -278 0 0 7,940 0.9 -586 -1,004 74 13 8,027 Illinois 8,106 721 -2,134 16 7 117,364 2.0 -1,323 -4,949 501 142 118,007 Indiana 2,279 -139 -206 1 4 21,974 0.7 -980 -2,261 66 19 22,059 Iowa 1,409 -1,057 -1,640 2 3 16,547 1.1 234 -949 13 8 16,568 Kansas 993 -97 -252 3 0 7,955 0.6 110 -1,676 24 18 7,997 Kentucky 1,400 -153 -3,854 1 0 16,369 0.8 1,811 4,179 61 30 16,460 Louisiana 1,225 13 -223 2 1 6,077 0.3 -5 -4,825 43 12 6,132 Maine 557 39 -59 0 0 9,176 1.5 -180 336 40 10 9,226 Maryland 2,079 -183 -343 36 10 24,906 1.0 -336 -508 671 61 25,638 Massachusetts 3,844 -459 -432 3 0 92,258 2.6 -3,309 10,297 355 37 92,650 Michigan 4,756 -2,751 -273 2 3 80,720 1.9 2,862 6,499 164 27 80,911 Minnesota 3,947 146 252 7 1 65,872 2.3 -1,207 220 101 61 66,034 Mississippi 754 -132 -94 3 1 5,683 0.5 -296 -448 61 5 5,749 Missouri 2,931 182 39 4 4 18,143 0.6 -134 -1,356 78 11 18,232 Montana 514 18 28 7 0 9,008 1.8 -719 176 202 10 9,220 Nebraska 538 -106 -21 3 1 6,905 0.7 -390 597 15 3 6,923 Nevada 2,350 -14 71 3 2 25,593 1.7 -303 505 117 75 25,785 New Hampshire 431 -38 61 2 1 4,624 0.7 -31 506 7 0 4,631 New Jersey 8,042 157 214 39 30 110,971 2.6 -4,278 312 365 228 111,564 New Mexico 787 -107 -70 2 2 10,595 1.3 100 -251 119 23 10,737 New York 14,935 1,236 -186 20 12 192,113 2.0 -1,923 16,096 609 264 192,986 North Carolina 2,899 -33 -290 5 0 19,274 0.4 -167 -5,868 106 74 19,454 North Dakota 293 15 38 1 1 5,467 1.3 -295 320 12 5 5,484 Ohio 4,874 183 -1,259 6 11 55,998 1.0 -2,211 -3,938 126 60 56,184 Oklahoma 1,458 169 259 5 8 10,489 0.6 1,003 196 38 27 10,554 Oregon 5,915 1,091 874 11 3 37,430 1.9 -419 3,878 429 83 37,942 Pennsylvania 8,441 -598 -142 23 11 98,924 1.7 -3,460 -1,824 487 116 99,527 Puerto Rico 910 -5 -166 2 3 16,242 1.8 71 1,069 304 77 16,623 Rhode Island 740 -40 15 2 0 13,184 2.7 -605 307 57 13 13,254 South Carolina 1,804 94 33 3 6 14,330 0.6 -55 321 38 39 14,407 South Dakota 165 -14 7 1 0 2,684 0.6 -115 52 14 4 2,702 Tennessee 3,421 409 614 3 3 16,188 0.5 -398 559 47 43 16,278 Texas 17,488 1,952 784 77 96 152,534 1.1 4,561 -7,063 690 832 154,056 Utah 1,342 17 91 5 4 13,594 0.8 -588 -360 202 20 13,816 Vermont 303 -27 -10 0 0 3,650 1.2 -148 203 1 0 3,651 Virgin Islands 6 -8 -23 0 0 224 0.7 36 -8 12 0 236 Virginia 2,250 -24 -325 9 2 19,745 0.5 -847 2,120 279 71 20,095 Washington 5,499 -280 -6 10 11 82,924 2.3 -1,564 3,573 564 404 83,892 West Virginia 557 -7 -81 0 0 7,236 1.1 -179 -359 51 10 7,297 Wisconsin 4,471 804 -237 3 2 29,430 1.0 720 -1,039 63 11 29,504 Wyoming 321 -47 8 8 0 2,391 0.9 28 -76 43 2 2,436 Totals 186,258 -519 -13,823 580 395 2,006,561 1.3 -27,393 -52,190 11,089 4,695 2,022,345 Figures appearing in columns showing over-the-week changes reflect all revisions in data for prior week submitted by state agencies. 1. The Unemployment Compensation program for Federal Employees (UCFE) and the Unemployment Compensation for Ex-servicemembers (UCX) exclude claims filed jointly under other programs to avoid duplication. 2. Rate is not seasonally adjusted. The source of U.S. total covered employment is BLS. 7 UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED MARCH 28, 2026 STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 State Change State Supplied Comment TX +1,952 Layoffs in manufacturing, and in accommodation and food services industries. NY +1,236 Layoffs in accommodation and food services, construction, and in transportation and warehousing industries. OR +1,091 No comment. STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 State Change State Supplied Comment MI -2,751 Fewer layoffs in manufacturing industry. GA -1,059 Fewer layoffs in manufacturing, administrative and support and waste management and remediation services, accommodation and food services, and in health care and social assistance industries. IA -1,057 Fewer layoffs in manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, and in educational services industries. 8 TECHNICAL NOTES This news release presents the weekly unemployment insurance (UI) claims reported by each state's unemployment insurance program offices. These claims may be used for monitoring workload volume, assessing state program operations and for assessing labor market conditions. States initially report claims directly taken by the state liable for the benefit payments, regardless of where the claimant who filed the claim resided. These are the basis for the advance initial claims and continued claims reported each week. These data come from ETA 538, Advance Weekly Initial and Continued Claims Report. The following week initial claims and continued claims are revised based on a second reporting by states that reflect the claimants by state of residence. These data come from the ETA 539, Weekly Claims and Extended Benefits Trigger Data Report. A. Initial Claims An initial claim is a claim filed by an unemployed individual after a separation from an employer. The claimant requests a determination of basic eligibility for the UI program. When an initial claim is filed with a state, certain programmatic activities take place and these result in activity counts including the count of initial claims. The count of U.S. initial claims for unemployment insurance is a leading economic indicator because it is an indication of emerging labor market conditions in the country. However, these are weekly administrative data which are difficult to seasonally adjust, making the series subject to some volatility. B. Continued Weeks Claimed A person who has already filed an initial claim and who has experienced a week of unemployment then files a continued claim to claim benefits for that week of unemployment. On a weekly basis, continued claims are also referred to as insured unemployment, as continued claims reflect a good approximation of the current number of insured unemployed workers filing for UI benefits. The count of U.S. continued weeks claimed is also a good indicator of labor market conditions. While continued claims are not a leading indicator (they roughly coincide with economic cycles at their peaks and lag at cycle troughs), they provide confirming evidence of the direction of the U.S. economy. C. Seasonal Adjustments and Annual Revisions Over the course of a year, the weekly changes in the levels of initial claims and continued claims undergo regularly occurring fluctuations. These fluctuations may result from seasonal changes in weather, major holidays, the opening and closing of schools, or other similar events. Because these seasonal events follow a more or less regular pattern each year, their influence on the level of a series can be tempered by adjusting for regular seasonal variation. These adjustments make trend and cycle developments easier to spot. At the beginning of each calendar year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics provides the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) with a set of seasonal factors to apply to the unadjusted data during that year. Concurrent with the implementation and release of the new seasonal factors, ETA incorporates revisions to the UI claims historical series caused by updates to the unadjusted data. For further questions on the seasonal adjustment methodology, please see the official release page for the UI claims seasonal adjustment factors or contact BLS directly through the Local Area Unemployment Statistics web contact form. Weekly Claims Archives Weekly Claims Data U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The Department's Reasonable Accommodation Resource Center converts Departmental information and documents into alternative formats, which include Braille and large print. For alternative format requests, please contact the Department at (202) 693-7828 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (federal relay). U.S. Department of Labor Program Contacts: Employment and Training Administration Lawrence S. Essien: (202) 693-3087 Washington, D.C. 20210 Media Contact: (202) 693-4676 Release Number: USDL 26-596-NAT 9 ```