United States Department of Labor facts for kids
Seal of the U.S. Department of Labor
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Flag of the U.S. Department of Labor
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 The Frances Perkins Building, headquarters of the U.S. Department of Labor |
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | March 4, 1913 |
| Preceding agency | |
| Jurisdiction | Federal Government of the United States |
| Headquarters | Frances Perkins Building 200 Constitution Avenue northwest Washington, D.C. 38°53′35″N 77°00′52″W / 38.89306°N 77.01444°W |
| Employees | 16,922 (2023) |
| Annual budget | $14.6 billion (FY2023) |
| Agency executives |
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The United States Department of Labor (DOL) is a part of the U.S. federal government. It is one of the main departments that helps run the country. The DOL makes sure that federal laws about jobs and workers are followed. This includes rules for workplace safety, fair pay, and help for people who lose their jobs. It also collects important information about jobs and the economy.
The department is led by the Secretary of Labor. This person reports directly to the president of the United States and is a member of the president's Cabinet.
The main goal of the Department of Labor is to help workers, people looking for jobs, and retirees in the U.S. It works to make sure working conditions are good, that people have chances for good jobs, and that they get the benefits and rights they deserve. To do this, the DOL manages and enforces over 180 federal laws and thousands of rules. These rules cover many workplace activities for about 10 million employers and 125 million workers. The department's main office is in the Frances Perkins Building in Washington, D.C. This building is named after Frances Perkins, who was the Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945.
Contents
History of the Department of Labor
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The idea of a government group focused on labor started a long time ago. In 1884, the U.S. Congress created the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This bureau was set up to gather facts and figures about jobs and workers. It was first part of the Department of the Interior. The Bureau started collecting economic information in 1884. It then published its first report in 1886.
Later, in 1888, the Bureau of Labor became its own independent Department of Labor. However, it was not yet a top-level department like it is today. In 1903, it became a bureau again. This happened when the Department of Commerce and Labor was created.
Becoming a Cabinet-Level Department
On March 4, 1913, President William Howard Taft signed a bill. This bill made the Department of Labor its own top-level department. This meant it was now part of the President's Cabinet. The next day, President Wilson appointed William B. Wilson as the first Secretary of Labor.
As part of this change, the United States Conciliation Service was created. This group helped solve problems between workers and employers. In 1919, Secretary Wilson led the first meeting of the International Labour Organization. This was even before the U.S. officially joined the group.
In 1916, a new law called the Federal Employees' Compensation Act was passed. This law gave benefits to workers who got hurt or sick on the job. An agency was set up to handle these benefits. It later moved to the Labor Department and is now called the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
Frances Perkins and the Department
Frances Perkins made history on March 4, 1933. President Roosevelt chose her to be the Secretary of Labor. She was the first woman ever to be a member of a U.S. President's Cabinet. Perkins served for 12 years. This made her the longest-serving Secretary of Labor in history.
In 1947, a law called the Taft–Hartley Act was passed. This law changed how labor disputes were handled. The U.S. Conciliation Service left the department. It became a new, independent group called the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
During the 1960s, plans were made to bring all the department's offices together. They were spread out in over 20 different places. Construction on a new building began in the mid-1960s. It was finished in 1975. In 1980, the building was named the Frances Perkins Building to honor her.
Modern Era and Recent Secretaries
In the 1970s, after the civil rights movement, the Labor Department worked hard. Under Secretary George P. Shultz, it helped make unions more diverse. This meant more people of different races could join unions.
The Department of Labor has continued to grow and change. In 2013, the department celebrated its 100th birthday. Tom Perez became Secretary of Labor that year. He said that the department is "the department of opportunity." This means it helps people find chances to succeed in their jobs and lives.
More recently, Alexander Acosta served as Secretary from 2017 to 2019. He was followed by Eugene Scalia until 2021. Then, Marty Walsh became Secretary in 2021. He resigned in 2023. Julie Su then served as Acting Secretary.
What the Department of Labor Does
The Department of Labor has many different groups and offices. Each one helps with a specific part of its mission. Here are some of the main ones:
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): This group collects and shares important information about jobs, prices, and the economy. They tell us how many people have jobs, what things cost, and how the economy is doing.
- Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA): This office protects the retirement and health plans of workers. They make sure that companies manage these plans fairly.
- Employment and Training Administration (ETA): This group helps people find jobs and get job training. They offer programs that teach new skills and help people get ready for work.
- Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA): This agency works to prevent accidents and illnesses in mines. They set safety rules and inspect mines to make sure they are safe for workers.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): OSHA makes sure workplaces are safe and healthy for all workers. They set rules to prevent injuries and illnesses on the job.
- Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP): This office helps federal workers who get hurt or sick because of their jobs. They make sure these workers get the benefits they need.
- Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS): This group helps military veterans find jobs. They provide training and support to help veterans use their skills in civilian jobs.
- Wage and Hour Division (WHD): This division makes sure workers get paid fairly. They enforce laws about minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor.
- Women's Bureau (WB): This bureau works to improve working conditions and opportunities for women. They focus on issues like equal pay and workplace flexibility.
Important Laws the DOL Helps With
The Department of Labor helps enforce many important laws that protect workers. Here are a few examples:
- Occupational Safety and Health Act (1970): This law created OSHA. It makes sure employers provide safe and healthy workplaces.
- Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) (1974): This law protects the retirement and health plans that companies offer to their employees.
- Fair Labor Standards Act (various amendments): This law sets rules for minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor.
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) (1993): This law allows eligible employees to take unpaid leave for family and medical reasons without losing their jobs.
- Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (2014): This law helps people get job training and find employment.
Images for kids
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The former flag of the U.S. Department of Labor, used from 1914 to 1960
See also
In Spanish: Departamento del Trabajo de los Estados Unidos para niños Ministry of Labour Equal Employment Opportunity Commission National Labor Relations Board Occupational Information Network Ticket to Work Title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations
