Construction Materials

Secretary Sonderling statement on September jobs report WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling issued the following statement regarding the September 2026 Employment Situation Report:“President Trump’s economic agenda continues to deliver for American workers and businesses. Construction employment rose 11,000 in September, marking seven straight months of growth. Manufacturing employment also continues to expand, adding 9,000 jobs in September and 72,000 for the year.“After years of decline under the previous administration, President Trump is driving an industrial renaissance that continues to expand. Thanks to trillions of dollars of investment and the historic relief provided by the Working Families Tax Cuts, American workers are keeping more of what they earn while businesses have the certainty to invest and hire.” Published at 2026-10-02T12:00:00Z Read more at https://dol.gov

US Department of Labor awards $10.2 million to 67 organizations to promote workplace safety and health training WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced the award approximately $10.2 million in grant funds to 67 organizations across the nation to support education and training focused on worker safety to help employees and employers recognize serious workplace hazards and employ safety and health programs.Funded through the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, the grants aim to advance worker safety and health by providing instructor-led training opportunities for workers and employers in small businesses with an emphasis on industries with high injury, illness, and fatality rates.The grants will fund training and education on hazard awareness, prevention, and controls to protect workers from on-the-job hazards through the development of quality classroom-ready training and educational materials that identify a...

US Department of Labor awards $43 million to 7 states to support skills training in shipbuilding, manufacturing, aerospace, other critical industries WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $43 million in Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund grants to seven states to invest in employer-driven skills training programs for critical industries like shipbuilding, advanced manufacturing, and nuclear energy.Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the second round of Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund grants will provide funding to State Workforce Agencies to provide outcome-based reimbursements to employers who provide training that is responsive to rapidly evolving skill requirements and local workforce needs. More than $10 million of the awarded funding supports occupations in the domestic shipbuilding industry and the maritime supply chain.“President Trump is restoring American manufacturing dominance, especi...

US Department of Labor awards $65M to develop, expand access to training opportunities through Workforce Pell Grants WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $65 million in grants to consortia in seven states to help community colleges develop high-quality, short-term programs that can qualify for Workforce Pell funding. Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, this sixth round of Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants funding is awarded to statewide community college systems, or a consortia of community colleges to ensure effective development and expansion of the new programs and support the statewide coordination that is necessary for successful implementation of Workforce Pell Grants.       “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we are building an industry-driven education and workforce system that prepares Americans for the new, high-skilled, high-paying private-s...

US Department of Labor investigation finds Chicago construction employer exposed workers to continued safety hazards, proposes $265K in penalties CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Calumet City-based residential construction and carpentry employer after two separate investigations into its continued failure to provide fall protection for workers. The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated two worksites operated by Martin Araujo – doing business as Araujo Construction Corp. – and found that carpenters and general construction laborers were installing roof rafters and roof sheeting without fall protection, exposing them to falls of up to 25 feet. OSHA cited Araujo Construction with two willful violations for not providing fall protection, while working from heights during residential construction at the two worksites. OSHA also cited the employer with nine repeat safety violations for failing to provide head and eye protection, l...

This Labor Day, the US Department of Labor celebrates 250 years of the American worker, our nation’s greatest asset WASHINGTON – As America celebrates Labor Day and its 250th anniversary, the U.S. Department of Labor is honoring the generations of American workers whose skill, strength, ingenuity, and determination built the greatest nation and most powerful economy the world has ever known.For 250 years, American workers have built our cities, cultivated our land, powered our factories, forged our steel, laid our railroads, pioneered new technologies, and carried American industry to every corner of the globe. From the workshops and farms of 1776 to the factories, construction sites, small businesses, and cutting-edge industries of today, the American worker has always been the backbone of our nation.“American workers are the greatest workers in the world,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “For 250 years, their skill, ingenuity, determination, and hard work have built...