At the Department of Labor, we're building a worker-centric economy from the bottom up and the middle out by leveraging federal investments to create good jobs, while protecting workers' rights, wages, health and safety, and supporting workers' rights to organize for better conditions. This Labor Day, we're celebrating workers by building an equitable, empowered workforce for all.
Scroll down to learn more about how we're delivering for workers under the Biden-Harris administration.
Creating Pathways to Good Jobs in Clean Energy
The Inflation Reduction Act is the largest investment in clean energy workers and projects in U.S. history. The Department of Labor is working with agencies across the federal government to help make sure those that climate investments and infrastructure projects create good-paying jobs. Check out the map to find information about clean energy projects that are under construction or in a pre-construction phase, sortable by sector and state.
Interested in joining a union? We're here to help.
Our updated Worker Organizing Resource and Knowledge (WORK) Center website is a one-stop shop for information and resources on unions and collective bargaining for workers, unions, policymakers and anyone interested in taking action to support worker organizing and successful labor-management collaboration.
New and Noteworthy
Overtime rule will benefit millions
A hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. Our rule will benefit millions of workers, including many who have been working more than 40 hours per week without any extra pay by ensuring they gain overtime protections or a raise in salary or compensation level.
A new rule to help employers distinguish between employees and independent contractors
We published a rule to address how to analyze whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Independent contractors in business for themselves play an important role in our economy – and this rule won’t change that. What it will do is ensure employees receive the protections and benefits they are due.
Retirement security rule will benefit millions of workers and their families
Our final retirement security rule will protect millions of workers who rely on advice from trusted professionals on how to invest their savings. This rule makes sure the advice people get is in their best interest, not the interest of the person providing advice.
New silica rule is a major step forward for miners’ health
Too many miners in the U.S. have been sickened or killed by respirable crystalline silica, or silica dust – which has long been known to cause irreversible and deadly diseases like silicosis and black lung. A new rule from the Mine Safety and Health Administratoin that lowers the permissible exposure limit, among other requirements, to help make sure miners come home to their families safe and healthy at the end of every shift.
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A new rule to improve protections for farmworkers
Our food supply relies on farmworkers, including hundreds of thousands on H-2A visas. A final rule from the department will strengthen protections for workers under the H-2A program and similarly employed workers in the U.S.
Additional resources
Labor Rights Week
All workers in the United States, regardless of where they're from, have the same right to a safe and healthful workplace and full payment of wages earned under federal law.
WATCH: Why we celebrate Labor Day
On Labor Day, we celebrate the workers and the vision and the effort that goes into securing that better future.
WATCH: What makes a good job?
We asked Labor Department staff what makes a good job. Hear their answers, and their reflections on their first – or best – job ever.
WATCH: The history of Labor Day
Learn about the origin of the only federal holiday dedicated to honoring and recognizing America's workers.
Social media assets
Download and share our social media assets to help us celebrate Labor Day online.
Workforce infrastructure creates good jobs
Infrastructure isn't just roads and bridges – it’s our workforce system too. Learn how we’re working to make sure historic federal infrastructure investments are creating more opportunities for America's workers, including communities that have historically been shut out.
In the news
- Dayton Daily News: Labor Rights Week reminds us that federal law protects EVERY worker
- The Lexington Courier Journal: A Kentucky company violated child labor laws. We must protect our children.
- The Spooner Advocate: Protecting Wisconsin workers from heat is a hot topic
- The Miami Herald: Teens first jobs must be safe jobs
- NPR for Central and Eastern Kentucky: Mine Safety and Health Administration officials working to decrease accidental fatalities, respiratory illnesses in Appalachian miners