What’s Happening in Pennsylvania?
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State’s new unemployment claims continue to drop as restrictions ease
HARRISBURG – The number of people filing unemployment claims in the week ending May 17 dropped below 62,000 for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic prompted the state to close nonessential businesses statewide. State Labor and Industry data shows the number of claims has dropped to 61,864 in the period. That’s fewer new claims in…
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Department of Labor & Industry: Pennsylvania launches program for people who exhaust their unemployment compensation benefits.
ext of May 17 media advisory. Provides an additional 13 weeks of benefits. More than $7.9 billion in total unemployment benefits paid since mid-March. Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Jerry Oleksiak today announced the launch of Pennsylvania’s Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program to provide an additional 13 weeks of benefits…
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Your View: Finding Pennsylvania jobs in a post-coronavirus world
Elizabeth Dodson was working toward her customer service certification from the Pennsylvania CareerLink Lehigh Valley when the coronavirus hit; Gov. Wolf issued his first stay-at-home order as she was scheduling her first job interviews. Happily, Dodson landed a job anyway, starting April 6 as an inventory control specialist at McKesson Medical-Surgical in Bethlehem and is now earning…
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PA officials looking at securing federal loan to bolster state Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund
The COVID-19 pandemic is having a major impact on Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund. Pennsylvania is looking to obtain a federal loan to help bolster the UC Trust Fund now facing unprecedented jobless claims due resulting from job layoffs due to the pandemic, said Jerry Oleksiak, secretary of the Department of Labor and Industry, on…
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Department of Aging: Pennsylvania receives $34 million to provide essential services to older adults
Harrisburg, PA — As part of the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 emergency, Pennsylvania has received $34 million to support services authorized by the Older Americans Act and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. These services include home-delivered meals; in-home care services; respite care and other support to families and caregivers; and information and…
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Hackett resigns from Pa. workforce board, blasts Wolf over recent comments
WILKES-BARRE — State Sen. John Yudichak on Friday said business leaders like Chris Hackett, CEO of i2M in Mountain Top, and union leaders who represent essential workers, should have been part of the crisis response team from day one on how the Commonwealth can best protect the safety of employees in manufacturing facilities across Pennsylvania.…
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Will Pennsylvania Run Out Of Unemployment Money?
Since March 15, nearly 1.6 million Pennsylvanians have filed for traditional unemployment compensation. Thousands more have applied for help under a new federal program for self-employed and contract workers. But the unprecedented volume of applications may still not reflect the true number of people in need. Melinda Reich worked as a prep cook at Jerome Bettis’ Grille 36 on Pittsburgh’s…
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Department of Community & Economic Development: New funding available for technology-based companies
Text of April 23 press release. Harrisburg, PA – Today, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin announced that new funding is available to help technology-based companies impacted by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. “DCED remains committed to identifying new resources that can support Pennsylvania’s businesses during this unprecedented time,” said Sec. Davin.…