Workforce Bulletin - October 25, 2013
This edition of Workforce Bulletin contains articles including:
2013 National UI Directors’ Conference and IT/Legal Issues Forum: Conference Presentations
The National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) and the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation were pleased to host the 2013 NASWA National Unemployment Insurance (UI) Directors' Conference and IT/Legal Issues Forum. This fall's event was held from October 7-10, 2013 in Rapid City, South Dakota. Over 220 state and private sector individuals were in attendance.
Delayed Employment Report Shows Unemployment Rate Little Changed as Nonfarm Jobs Increased by 148,000 in September
Nonfarm jobs rose by 148,000 to 136,290,000 in September. Figures for August were revised upward by 9,000. Monthly job gains averaged 185,000 per month over the prior 12 months as the growth rate averaged 1.6 percent.
House Committee Expresses Concern to OMB on Possible Overpayments Due to Government Shutdown
In a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Burwell, the Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means Committee, Dave Camp (R-MI), Human Resources Subcommittee Chairman Dave Reichert (R-WA) and 17 other Committee Members expressed concern that recently furloughed Federal employees may be collecting and keeping unemployment benefits, resulting from the Federal Government shutdown.
TOPS Program Mandated in House Legislation
The U.S. House of Representatives, this week, passed H.R.3205, which among other things, mandates all states participate in U.S Department of the Treasury’s Unemployment Insurance Compensation Treasury Offset Program. The effective date is October 1, 2015.
NASWA UI Committee Forms Workgroup to Address BAM Concerns
At its October 8, 2013 meeting in Rapid City, South Dakota, the Unemployment Insurance Committee formed a workgroup to address states’ concerns with the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance, Benefit Accuracy Measurement (BAM) Investigative and Coding Guidance, UIPL 28-13.
OFCCP Director Shiu Discusses Final Veterans/Disabilities Rules Implementation
The Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Patricia A. Shiu, said this week successful compliance with its final veterans and disabilities rules means the agency will have to provide specific answers to federal contractors' compliance questions before their effective date of March 24, 2014.
Budget Conference Committee likely to Focus on Sequestration; No “Grand Bargain” Expected
The 29 members of the budget conference committee are formally set to hold their first meeting next Wednesday, with the panel facing a deadline of Dec. 13 for producing a report of recommendations for the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.
Unemployment Insurance Initial Claims Decrease, Continued Claims Decrease
The U.S. Department of Labor reported for the week ending October 19, 2013, seasonally adjusted unemployment insurance initial claims decreased from the previous week’s revised figure.
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