Mycole Slater knows the definition of “hard work” and “determination”— it was simply a lack of opportunity that was the primary barrier to financial independence for the 29-year-old mother of three young boys. Struggling to make ends meet while working in a variety of jobs − including sales and customer service positions and as a certified nursing aid − the Peoria, Illinois, native found her opportunity when she enrolled in the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Grant Program for Construction Trades at Illinois Central College, a pre-apprenticeship program recognized by the U.S...

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You now have data to back up why your holiday spending budget went further than normal this year … or seemed to disappear in a flash!

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As more baby boomers retire, many industries − including construction − will experience a massive loss of skill sets built over the years.

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Hello Alfred has always put its employees first. They’re our primary customer - not the “help.” These aren’t merely buzzy slogans; they’re the foundation of our business model.

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Misclassifying employees as independent contractors is a huge problem for workers, employers who play by the rules and our economy. To help tackle this issue, the Labor Department has created a user-friendly webpage where workers, employers and government agencies can find information and resources: www.dol.gov/misclassification . misclassification-site.png Miguel Chavez , a taxi driver, was a victim of misclassification – and as a result, was underpaid and subjected to terrible working conditions. He stayed with his job not because he thought what was happening was legal or right, but...

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We’ve shared a lot of stories over the past year. What were the blogs that got people buzzing? Here’s a countdown of some of the heavy hitters:

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Our Wage and Hour Division office became aware workers at an animal hides processing plant might not have been paid properly.

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Lilia Navarette worked hard and learned a lot when she was dispatched from her Job Corps center in Nampa, Idaho, earlier this year to help support efforts to fight back the Pioneer Fire northeast of Boise.

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As 2016 draws to a close, we look back on some of our most picturesque moments: blog-20161213-big-picture-feb.png February : With a little help from Sgt. 1 st Class Watts of the Golden Knights, the U.S. Army’s Parachute Team, Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training Mike Michaud "jumps" at the chance to show the department’s commitment to helping veterans get good jobs . blog-20161213-big-picture-feb2.png February : Joanne Hager, member of Laborers Local 563, holds up a sign that reads, ‘I pledge to #StartTheConvo for #minority and female tradespersons’ while attending the...

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After graduating from high school, Ranson, West Virginia, native Sara Simpson enrolled at nearby Shepherd University with plans to pursue nursing. But she had to work two jobs just to afford tuition and struggled to keep up with her coursework. The juggling act became too much and she had to take a break. Her mother, who worked at the Harpers Ferry Job Corps Center, encouraged her to apply to Job Corps – a Labor Department program that provides free job training and education for young people. It was a smart move. While enrolled at the Harpers Ferry center, Sara focused on business technology...

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