employment Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Federal grants could improve utility safety and add jobs

By Lauren Gallup November 1, 2023

The federal Grid Resilience and Innovations Partnerships Program is investing in 58 projects across 44 states. (Courtesy of Julien Maculan on Unsplash)

Four utilities in Washington state received funding from the U.S Department of Energy to strengthen the electrical grid against future wildfires and ensure reliability to customers. That funding comes from the federal Grid Resilience and Innovations Partnerships Program, which is investing in 58 projects across 44 states. Read More

Washington closes Larch prison as staff push back over jobs, wildfire risk

By Northwest News Network October 10, 2023

A handful of people stand holding a bright yellow banner that reads "Our Community Needs Larch" as the back of a bus is seen driving past them.

Larch staff have pushed back against the closure of the minimum security since plans were announced this summer, including filing a lawsuit that they hoped would pause the closure. A… Continue Reading Washington closes Larch Read More

What will happen to employees at WestRock Paper Mill when it closes?

By Lauren Gallup September 5, 2023

About 400 workers could be displaced from the WestRock Paper Mill in Tacoma when it closes next month. (Credit: Lauren Gallup/NWPB)

With the impending closure of the WestRock Paper Mill in Tacoma, about 400 workers could be displaced. “It's really significant,” said Chelsea Mason-Placek, who is the workforce development director for the Washington State Labor Council. “This is a much larger layoff than we typically see.” Read More

A $500 Sign-On Bonus To Deliver Pizzas? Here’s What To Know About Hiring Incentives

By NPR News July 6, 2021

In need of workers, a Domino's franchise in Washington, D.C., is offering a sign-on bonus for all positions. CREDIT: Andrea Hsu/NPR

With a record 9.3 million jobs open in the U.S. as of April, and a workforce in no hurry to get back to work, a growing number of employers are looking to hiring bonuses to fill their ranks. Long a tradition on Wall Street, sign-on bonuses are rare in low-wage work such as fast food, warehousing and food delivery. Now, as the economy has picked up, hiring bonuses are Read More

Signs Of Economic Boom Emerge As Retail Sales Surge, Jobless Claims Hit Pandemic Low

By NPR News April 15, 2021

Diners eat lunch at Max's Oyster Bar in West Hartford, Conn., on March 19. Retail sales surged last month as $1,400 relief payments and easing coronavirus restrictions led shoppers to open their wallets. Jessica Hill/AP

Signs of an economic boom are emerging as Americans open up their wallets to spend freely. Retail sales soared 9.8% in March, according to a report Thursday from the Commerce Department. The increase follows a 2.7% slump in February, which analysts blamed partly on severe winter weather. Read More

About Half Of U.S. Homes Lost Wages During Pandemic, Census Bureau Finds

By NPR News May 20, 2020

People wait in a long line to receive a food bank donation at the Barclays Center on May 15 in Brooklyn, N.Y. Across the country, cities and towns are dealing with the highest unemployment rates since the Great Depression.

Because of the COVID-19 crisis, 47% of adults say their households have lost employment income and close to 40% have delayed getting medical care, according to early results of a Census Bureau survey. Continue Reading About Half Of U.S. Read More

CDC Announces New Guidance For How Critical Employees Can Return To Work

By NPR News April 8, 2020

Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announced new guidelines on Wednesday for critical infrastructure workers who may have been exposed to the coronavirus to return to work. CREDIT: Alex Brandon/AP

The new rules apply only to workers in critical infrastructure jobs, a broadly defined group that includes employees in fields from health care to financial services. Continue Reading CDC Announces New Guidance For How Critical Read More

U.S. Added 273,000 Jobs Last Month, But Economists Brace For Coronavirus Impact

By NPR News March 9, 2020

Economists warned that business and consumer caution about the virus is likely to weigh on job growth in the months to come. Continue Reading U.S. Added 273,000 Jobs Last Month, But Economists Brace For Coronavirus ImpactRead More

LGBTQ Employees Are Already Protected In Washington State, No Matter What SCOTUS Rules

By Paige Browning October 8, 2019

The Trans Pride Seattle march crosses Broadway Street on Friday, June 22, 2018, near Cal Anderson Park in Capitol Hill. CREDIT: Megan Farmer/KUOW

LGBTQ Washingtonians have had job and housing protections since 2006. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear three cases October 8 over anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ employees. Continue Reading LGBTQ Employees Are Read More

1.3 Million More Workers May Be Eligible For Overtime Pay. But There’s A Catch

By NPR News September 24, 2019

A long-awaited update to federal overtime rules means about 1.3 million workers will be entitled to extra pay when they work more than 40 hours a week. But critics say it doesn't go far enough. Continue Reading 1.3 Million More Read More

From The Warehouse To IT: Amazon Offering 100,000 Workers Tech Training

By NPR News July 11, 2019

Amazon plans to invest $700 million to train a third of its U.S. workforce for higher-skilled jobs. The company acknowledged that workers could use their new skills to seek jobs outside Amazon. Continue Reading From The Warehouse To IT: Read More

This California City Has The Nation’s Worst Job Market: ‘I’m Applying Everywhere’

By NPR News July 5, 2019

At a time when the United States is enjoying the lowest unemployment rate in a half-century, California's Imperial Valley suffers from a shortage of good jobs. Continue Reading This California City Has The Nation’s Worst Job Read More

Hiring Rebounds In June As Employers Add 224,000 Jobs

By NPR News July 5, 2019

Job growth rebounded strongly last month as employers added 224,000 jobs. That followed a disappointing May when employers added just 72,000 jobs. Continue Reading Hiring Rebounds In June As Employers Add 224,000 JobsRead More

Oregon’s New Equal Pay Act Goes Into Full Effect In 2019

By Kristian Foden-Vencil December 31, 2018

In this photo taken May 21, 2016, a sign calling for equitable pay in soccer is displayed at a Portland Thorns women’s soccer game at Providence Park in Portland. CREDIT: Anne M. Peterson/AP

There are already federal and state laws that try to shrink the pay gap among genders. But this new Oregon state law expands gender protections to include things like race, religion, marital status or age. Continue Reading Oregon’s New Equal Pay Read More