Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate rose but the state’s total nonfarm jobs reached a record high.

Citing their importance to local economies and area communities, employee-owned businesses were celebrated and recognized recently by Reps. Sara Innamorato, D-Allegheny, and Greg Rothman, R-Cumberland in an event at the Capitol in Harrisburg. 

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a new proposal recently on whether workers under the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) should be classified as employees or independent contractors. 

Allentown-based global technology services firm CAI and Marshall University’s West Virginia Autism Training Center, a statewide technical assistance and direct service agency providing specialized training and support to individuals with autism spectrum disorder, announced Tuesday that they’re joining forces.

To fill part-time and seasonal jobs, the City of Allentown has lowered the age requirement from 16 to 15.

Wisconsin-based Uline, a shipping supply specialist, is opening a new distribution center in Allentown and plans to hire between 90-120 associates to staff the facility.  

Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed a $6 million increase for career and technical education in his final budget to prepare students for the workforce. Lehigh Career and Technical Institute, (LCTI), Schnecksville, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, would be a recipient of some of that money. 

Tower Health will host a career fair and ice cream social from 12:30 to 3 p.m. tomorrow. 

Apprenticeship programs are growing across the state to help students earn while they learn and provide employers with a stream of workers they need. Thursday, Gov. Tom Wolf announced awards totaling more than $11 million for 26 apprenticeship programs for occupations in agriculture, manufacturing, health care, IT, education, human services, building trades and more. 

The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is spreading so rapidly that hospital beds are filling quickly.  But the repercussions go beyond overtaxing the medical facilities.  Small businesses are facing staffing shortages, and many are having to reduce hours and services or shuttering altogether.