May 6 Virtual Job Fair, 1 to 3:30 p.m
WorkForce West Virginia announces its next Statewide Virtual Job Fair on May 6, 2026, from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. Both employers and job seekers are invited to participate in this virtual event. Registration is required for all participants through the Premier Virtual portal.
Safety Standards Division Announces Three 2026 Industry Summits in April
The Oklahoma Department of Labor's Safety Standards Division has announced three industry summits in April 2026 covering Elevator and Escalator (April 2), Amusement Ride (April 14), and Boiler and Pressure Vessel (April 15) sectors. Each two-and-a-half-hour session will provide program updates, statutory and rule changes, and inspector insights at the ODOL Office in Oklahoma City. Attendance is voluntary and registration-only with no compliance obligations imposed.
Oklahoma High School Students Invited to Workplace Safety Video Contest
The Oklahoma Department of Labor (ODOL), in partnership with Oklahoma One-Call System, Inc., has announced the 2026 Speak Out for Workplace Safety Video Contest for Oklahoma high school students in grades 9-12. Students may submit original short videos (90 seconds or less) addressing workplace health and safety topics for a chance to win cash prizes and attend an awards reception at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Entries must be submitted by mail on a flash drive and postmarked no later than March 13, 2026.
Oklahoma 2024 Workplace Injury and Illness Survey Results
The Oklahoma Department of Labor released results from the 2024 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), a federal-state cooperative program. The survey estimated 15,400 work-related injury and illness cases in Oklahoma's private sector resulting in days away from work, job transfers, or restrictions. Oklahoma's incidence rate of 2.3 cases per 100 full-time employees matched the national average. Industries with higher rates included couriers and messengers, warehousing, beverage manufacturing, and nursing facilities.
Oklahoma Workers' Memorial Day Vigil Set for April 21, 2026
Oklahoma Department of Labor announces the 2026 Workers' Memorial Day Vigil on April 21, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at the OKANA Resort & Conference Center in Oklahoma City. The event honors Oklahoma workers who lost their lives on the job between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025, and recognizes ongoing workplace safety efforts. The vigil is open to the public.
Minnesota Minimum Wage $11.41/Hour, Meal and Rest Break Changes Effective January 2026
The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry announces that the state's minimum wage will increase to $11.41 per hour for all employers effective January 1, 2026, reflecting a 2.5% inflation adjustment. The 90-day training wage for workers under age 20 increases to $9.31. New meal and rest break requirements also take effect, mandating at least 15-minute paid rest breaks for every four consecutive hours worked and 30-minute unpaid meal breaks for shifts of six or more hours. Minneapolis and St. Paul have separate minimum wage ordinances with potentially higher rates.
IowaWORKS Mobile Workforce Center at 20th Annual Iowa Employment Conference
Iowa Workforce Development announces that the IowaWORKS Mobile Workforce Center will appear at the 20th Annual Iowa Employment Conference on April 8-9, 2026, at the Meadows Events & Conference Center in Altoona, IA. The mobile center will provide employers and job seekers with information on workforce services, recruiting events, tax credits, training options, and labor market resources.
BLS Data: Wisconsin February Employment Numbers Released; Unemployment Ticks Up to 3.4%
The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development released February 2026 preliminary employment estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wisconsin had 3,019,300 people employed, an unemployment rate of 3.4% (up 1.0 percentage point from the national rate of 4.4%), and a labor force participation rate of 64.4%. Total nonfarm jobs were 3,019,900, a decrease of 10,500 over the prior month.
State Seeks Public Comments on Workforce Development Plan Modification
The Maine Department of Labor and State Workforce Development Board have posted the 2024-2027 Unified State Plan Modification for public comment. The modification is required under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and outlines workforce development strategies to help job seekers access education, training, employment, and to match employers with skilled workers. Public comments will be accepted from April 20-24, 2026, through an online form, email, or mail.
DOJ Settles Antisemitism Case with Concord-Carlisle Massachusetts School District
The Justice Department and the Concord-Carlisle, Massachusetts School District entered a voluntary settlement agreement to resolve a Title IV investigation concerning antisemitic harassment of students. Between 2023 and 2025, antisemitic incidents including swastika drawings and derogatory language occurred at district middle and high schools. The settlement requires policy revisions, prompt incident response, comprehensive investigations, remedial measures including safety plans for victims, anti-retaliation protections, staff and student training, and a designated compliance overseer. DOJ will monitor compliance and the district will publicly report its efforts.
Federal Jury Convicts Louisiana Deputy U.S. Marshal of Civil Rights and Obstruction of Justice
A federal jury in the Western District of Louisiana convicted Deputy U.S. Marshal Joshua Firmin of civil rights violations and obstruction of justice. Firmin was convicted of assaulting a restrained prisoner on February 9, 2024, at the U.S. District Court in Lafayette, Louisiana, striking the victim with cell keys and forcefully slamming his head against a cellblock wall. Firmin was also convicted of writing a false incident report to cover up the assault. The verdict holds a federal law enforcement officer accountable for violating a prisoner's constitutional rights.
DOJ Closes Illinois DEI Loan Repayment Program Review After State Removes Criteria
The DOJ announced closure of a compliance review of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The review examined ISAC's Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program, which required setting aside at least 30% of funding for applicants of specific racial or ethnic origins. After receiving notice of the compliance review, Illinois voluntarily removed the DEI criteria from this program and other ISAC-administered programs. No penalties or enforcement actions were imposed.
Funding to Help Quebec Workers Build New Skills
ESDC announces an upcoming funding initiative to help Quebec workers develop new skills and seize emerging opportunities, with the announcement scheduled for April 17, 2026 in Fassett, Quebec. The funding targets workers impacted by tariffs and will be presented by Parliamentary Secretary Annie Koutrakis on behalf of Minister Patty Hajdu.
BA Mobile Fleet Services Limited Fined £30,000 After Worker Amputation in HGV Trailer
HSE prosecuted BA Mobile Fleet Services Limited for breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act. The company was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay £4,325 costs at Kidderminster Magistrates Court. The prosecution follows a December 2023 incident where a worker suffered severe leg injuries including amputation after being crushed under a one-tonne concrete block inside an HGV trailer being loaded by an untrained forklift driver.
SCA General Contracting Ordered to Pay $468,505 in Back Wages to 137 Workers for FLSA Violations
The U.S. Department of Labor obtained a consent judgment requiring SCA General Contracting Inc. to pay $468,505 in back wages and damages to 137 construction workers. The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California approved the judgment on Dec. 17, 2025, following a Wage and Hour Division investigation that found willful violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act including failure to pay minimum wage and overtime.
Oregon Korean BBQ Fined $96,985 for Child Labor, Overtime, Tip Pool Violations
The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division investigated Kkoki Korean BBQ in Eugene, Oregon, finding violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The employer allowed a 15-year-old employee to work beyond permitted hours on school days, past 9 p.m. during summer, and more than 40 hours weekly. The employer also failed to pay overtime for hours exceeding 40 per week and improperly permitted a manager to participate in the employee tip pool. The employer must pay $58,569 in back wages to 32 workers and $38,416 in civil money penalties for repeated and willful violations.
Maritime Safety Program Expands to Puerto Rico and USVI
OSHA announced expansion of its maritime safety Local Emphasis Program to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The initiative, effective March 2, 2026, establishes a five-year inspection plan targeting maritime industries including shipbuilding, boat building, marine cargo handling, port operations, and marinas. Free consultation services are available through the Puerto Rico OSHA Consultation Program and USVI Safety in Paradise program to help employers identify hazards and achieve compliance.
Work Opportunity Tax Credit Information Collection OMB Review Comment Request
The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The ICR covers the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) program, a federal tax credit available to employers for hiring individuals from target groups facing employment barriers. The notice includes seven program forms and requests public comments on the collection burden estimates.
Federal Minimum Wage Increases to $18.15 on April 1, 2026
The Government of Canada has announced that the federal minimum wage will increase to $18.15 per hour effective April 1, 2026. This represents a 2.1% increase indexed to Canada's Consumer Price Index for 2025, and a cumulative 21% increase since the standalone federal minimum wage was introduced in 2021. Federally regulated private sector employers are required to adjust payrolls to ensure compliance with the new rate.
Chris Roberts Named Acting Commissioner for Workers
ESDC announced Chris Roberts as Acting Commissioner for Workers for the Canada Employment Insurance Commission (CEIC), effective April 13, 2026, for an 18-month term. Roberts previously served as National Director of the Social and Economic Policy Department at the Canadian Labour Congress and succeeds Pierre Laliberté, who retired after nearly a decade of service. The CEIC administers the Employment Insurance program under the Employment Insurance Act.
Canada–Quebec $122.5M Agreement to Support Tariff-Impacted Workers
The governments of Canada and Quebec announced a $122.5 million joint agreement over three years to support workers and businesses impacted by global tariffs. The Canada-Quebec Workforce Tariff Response agreement will provide skills development and employment services through Quebec's public employment services network. Funding targets workers in softwood lumber, steel, and other directly and indirectly tariff-affected industries during a period of economic adjustment.
Canadian Labour Ministers Meet in Quebec City to Advance Labour Mobility and Workplace Safety
Federal, provincial and territorial labour ministers met in Quebec City on April 10, 2026, to advance labour mobility and harmonize occupational health and safety training across Canadian jurisdictions. Ministers endorsed an accelerated workplan for OHS training curriculum harmonization, including Working at Heights and Mobile Elevating Work Platforms training by January 1, 2027. Officials were directed to develop an interjurisdictional training approach by fall 2026 and a working group will address worker misclassification in the trucking industry.
Canada Creates 175,000 Youth Jobs and Skills-Building Opportunities
The Government of Canada announced 175,000 jobs and skills-building opportunities for Canadian youth in 2026. The initiative includes 100,000 Canada Summer Jobs postings, 55,000 work-integrated learning placements through the Student Work Placement Program, and over 20,000 opportunities under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy. The government also maintains increased Canada Student Grants and expanded loan forgiveness for rural healthcare professionals.
Benefit Sanctions Statistics to February 2027
DWP announces the upcoming release of benefit sanctions statistics covering Universal Credit data through February 2027. The statistics are scheduled for publication in May 2027 on a provisional basis. Data will be available for analysis through the Stat-Xplore platform as usual.
DWP Benefits Statistics, Release 18th Aug
The DWP has announced the release of official benefits statistics scheduled for 18 August 2026 at 9:30am. This is a routine statistical publication from the Department for Work and Pensions providing data on UK welfare benefits. No compliance obligations are created by this announcement.
Universal Credit Statistics, 29 April 2013 to 9 April 2026
DWP announces the release of Universal Credit statistics covering 29 April 2013 to 9 April 2026, to be published 12 May 2026. The statistics will cover claimant numbers by geography, age, employment status, and household characteristics, as well as claims and starts data. This is a routine statistical release with no new policy implications or compliance obligations.
Pension Credit Applications and Awards: May 2026
The Department for Work and Pensions announced the release of updated Pension Credit statistics covering the period 1 April 2023 to 5 April 2026. The statistics cover application volumes, awards made, and outstanding caseload figures. These official statistics will be published on 28 May 2026 at 9:30am.
Supported Housing Regulation: Consultation Outcome Published
The UK government has published the outcome of its consultation on implementing the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023. The consultation, which ran from February to May 2025, sought views on locally led licensing proposals for supported housing in England, National Supported Housing Standards, and changes to Housing Benefit Regulations. The outcome document includes feedback received and detailed annexes for each consultation question.
Michigan UIA Adds Daily Seminars for MiUI Account Activation
The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency announced daily seminars to help employers activate accounts on the new MiUI platform, which replaces the decade-old MiWAM system. The seminars walk participants through finding activation codes and completing required setup steps. Employers must activate their MiUI accounts as it is an employer-driven system, with quarterly wage reports and payments due by April 27, 2026.
Workforce Diploma Pilot Program Funding Opportunity
The Texas Workforce Commission announces a funding opportunity for its Workforce Diploma Pilot Program, supporting programs that help adult learners obtain high school diplomas, earn industry-recognized credentials, and develop employability skills. Applications are being accepted through May 5, 2026. Eligible applicants must be authorized to grant high school diplomas in Texas or partner with an accredited entity, and must have at least two years of experience in dropout reengagement services for adult students.
PepsiCo to Pay $270,000 in Disability Discrimination Settlement
The EEOC resolved a disability discrimination lawsuit against PepsiCo, with the company agreeing to pay $270,000 and implement injunctive relief including policy reviews, training, and reporting requirements. The settlement addresses alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Carlstar Group, $300,000, Disability Discrimination Settlement
The EEOC settled a disability discrimination lawsuit against Carlstar Group for $300,000. The settlement resolves allegations that the employer failed to provide reasonable accommodations and terminated employees based on disability. This enforcement action signals continued federal focus on disability discrimination in employment.