The United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report that examined long-term unemployment (more than 27 weeks), entry into and out of long-term spells of unemployment, and the effect of long-term unemployment on average wages. The period of study covered the mid-1980s through 2009. More than 22 percent of the men in the study experienced at least one long-term spell of unemployment from their labor market entry through 2009. On average, the first long-term unemployment spell lasted 55 weeks. The majority of men eventually found another job, although the average hourly wage declined more than 17 percent from two years before the beginning of the first long-term unemployment spell to the year after it began. Hourly wages began to trend upwards in the years following the first long-term unemployment spell. However, four years after onset of the first long-term unemployment spell, average hourly wages were still at seven percent below what they were four years before the spell began.

This U.S. Census Bureau report shows that the number of households with children under 18 who had at least one unemployed parent rose by 33 percent, from 2.4 million to 3.2 million, between 2005 and 2011. In some States, the rise was much sharper. Using statistics from the American Community Survey and Current Population Survey, the report provides an updated picture of the composition and living arrangements of families and households in the U.S. It covers specific topics such as same-sex couple households, young adults living in their parents' home, and multigenerational households.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy released the "Soft Skills to Pay the Bills" video series and discussion guide on DVD. The activities in this publication were created to provide an introduction to the "basics" of soft skills. These materials have been designed with youth service professionals in mind – specifically, those working with in-school and out-of-school youth, ages 14 to 21, on career and workforce readiness skills. The basic foundation for the structure of these activities includes convenience, cost-effectiveness, and creativity.

The National Governors' Association (NGA) announced a new year-long initiative, detailed in the brief, "America Works: Education and Training for Tomorrow's Jobs." The initiative will concentrate on improvement of the education and workforce training systems, as well as alignment of those systems with the needs of individual State economies.

The Urban Institute released a report discussing the community of the long-term unemployed. Individuals who have been out of work for more than 26 weeks (the long-term unemployed) tend to be less educated and are more likely to be non-white, unmarried, disabled, impoverished, and to have worked previously in the construction industry and construction occupations. The long-term unemployed have much more in common with workers who are newly unemployed and workers who have become discouraged and dropped out of the labor force. This suggests that solutions to long-term unemployment may be effective for other workers who have experienced other forms of labor market distress.

The United States Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service released a report that estimates the extent to which inflation in food prices has eroded improvement in the food security of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients that followed the increase in benefit size in April 2009 mandated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The National Literacy Trust released a report outlining the level of importance young individuals place on literacy skills in regards to their employment prospects. In addition, it briefly outlines the vital role that technology plays in the lives of young individuals and the degree to which this is linked to wider employment skills. A complementary report presents evidence on employers' views on literacy and employability.

The U.S. Department of Labor released a "Trauma Guide" that was created to address the psychological and mental health needs of women veterans. This guide is also a compilation of best practices aimed at improving effectiveness in engaging female veterans. Written for service providers, the guide offers observational knowledge and concrete guidelines for modifying practices with the goal of increasing re-entry outcomes.

This brief from the Transitional Jobs Network highlights a variety of models currently being used to connect homeless individuals with employment. Models highlighted include transitional jobs, individualized placement support, alternative staffing, customized employment, contextualized basic adult education, adult education bridge programs, and sector-based training. Within each model, a program example is provided for readers to better understand how the strategy is being used in the real world.

This study, commissioned by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, examines local programs that connect homeless individuals and families with other support services in order to best prevent future homelessness. Fourteen programs that have defined partnerships with other supportive service agencies were chosen for this study, and promising practices of these programs and partnerships are highlighted.