The United States Department of Labor's career Web site for Veterans allows the user to enter their military classification and see what civilian careers best match their skills. A new feature of the site allows the user to find available national certifications that are accredited, industry endorsed, related to military occupational specialties, and more. Veteran customers can also use the "Check Out My State" feature to discover which States have an "above average" or "below average" share of a career within their workforce.

MDRC issued a report on the Work Advancement and Support Center (WASC), an innovative program designed to increase the incomes of low-wage workers. The program offered participating workers intensive employment retention and advancement services, including career coaching and access to skills training. It also offered them easier access to work supports in an effort to increase their incomes in the short run and help stabilize their employment. The findings showed that increased access to training for low-income workers appears to be a critical part of any advancement strategy, yet the earnings gains associated with participation in training may be short-lived if participants are not given more guidance about the right types of training to pursue or opportunities for additional training.

ExploreVR (vocational rehabilitation) is a web application that provides State vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies easy and convenient access to a range of VR and related data for planning, evaluation, and decision-making. Overall, this data-sharing effort seeks to increase knowledge about the public VR program and its role within the larger employment and disability service system within and across States and territories.

The American Public Human Services Association (APHSA), through its "Pathways Initiative," is forging a vision for a transformed human service system. This policy brief is one of a series from APHSA addressing specific policies and recommendations that support the four outcome impact areas identified under their Pathways Initiative: participating in community life, earning income, reducing dependence on public benefits, and contributing to communities by becoming workers and taxpayers. This brief supports the outcome of Gainful Employment and Independence, for persons with disabilities.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics published a news release stating in-depth the employment situation for October 2012. This release covers employment statistics by race, gender and employment type. Analysis of recent statistics found that the total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 171,000, that the unemployment rate was unchanged at 7.9 percent and that employment rose in professional and business services, health care, and retail trade.

The National Governor's Association released a report that outlines "A Better Bottom Line: Employing People with Disabilities" initiative. The initiative was developed to provide individuals with disabilities the opportunities to: live close to family and friends; live independently and in safe communities; engage in productive employment; and participate in community life. Specifically, this initiative will focus on the employment challenges that affect individuals with intellectual and other significant disabilities and the role that both State government and business can play in facilitating and advancing opportunities for these individuals to be gainfully employed in the competitive labor market.

This report highlights outcomes from San Francisco's Jobs Now program, a subsidized employment program that began under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). It explains the program's design, how the city engaged with employers to secure jobs for participants and outcomes related to job attainment, job retention and wages. The Jobs Now program has continued even after ARRA funds were no longer available (though on a smaller scale) and the city is currently operating its fourth iteration of the program.

The American economy is facing a growing skills gap, with many adults lacking the training or education necessary for jobs that pay a middle-class wage. Helping adults earn the credentials and training they need to get and succeed in family-sustaining jobs is key to fueling the economy and boosting employment. In September, 2012, at the Opportunity Nation Summit in Washington, DC, Jobs for the Future (JFF) announced that five States – Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and North Carolina – will each receive a $1.6 million grant to help more workers earn valuable credentials needed for today's good jobs through innovative adult education programs.

Opportunity Nation, in partnership with Measure of America, has developed an Opportunity Index that measures a number of indicators at the county and State levels that contribute to economic opportunity and mobility, which together help measure the opportunities that are present in different communities. Central questions that the Index focuses on are: Are there good jobs? Do most young people graduate from high school on time? Are family doctors around? How does a specific neighborhood and region affect employment, education, housing and safety? These dimensions are measured in The Community Index to produce an overall opportunity score and grade for all U.S. States plus Washington, DC. The Index also is used to grade over 2,400 U.S. counties.

The Congressional Research Service released a report discussing a number of bills Congress has passed in recent years intended to jump-start a recovery in the labor market from the recession that began in 2007. The report addresses how the labor market responded to these measures, and critiques how well the legislation has worked towards providing additional jobs. Employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is analyzed in this report from December 2007 to September 2012. An in depth review of the recession and its effects on the labor market are also offered.