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Mission
The Department of Labor (DOL) fosters and promotes the welfare of the job seekers, wage earners, and retirees of
the United States by improving their working conditions, advancing their opportunities for profitable employment,
protecting their retirement and health care benefits, helping employers find workers, strengthening free collective
bargaining, and tracking changes in employment, prices, and other national economic measurements.
Vision
We will promote the economic well-being of workers and their families; help them share in the American dream
through rising wages, pensions, health benefits and expanded economic opportunities; and foster safe and healthful
workplaces that are free from discrimination.
Organization
The Department of Labor accomplishes its mission through component agencies and offices that administer the
various statutes and programs for which the Department is responsible. These programs are carried out through a
network of regional offices and smaller field, district, and area offices, as well as through grantees and contractors.
The largest program agencies, each headed by an Assistant Secretary, Commissioner, or Director, are the
Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Employment Standards Administration (ESA), Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Veterans’ Employment
and Training Service (VETS), Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation (PBGC), and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Legal services are provided to the program agencies
by the Office of the Solicitor. An organization chart and agency mission statements appear on the following pages.
Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB)
To carry out the Secretary of Labor's international responsibilities, develop Departmental policy and programs relating to international labor activities, and coordinate Departmental international activities involving other U.S. Government agencies, intergovernmental organizations, and nongovernmental organizations.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
To produce, analyze, and disseminate essential and accurate statistical data in the field of labor economics to the American public, the U.S. Congress, other Federal agencies, State and local governments, business, and labor.
Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (CFBCI)
To empower faith-based and community organizations (FBCO) as these organizations help their neighbors enter, succeed and thrive in the workforce. CFBCI targets those organizations that are trusted institutions providing valuable services but that may not be partnering with government programs.
Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)
To assist workers in getting the information they need to exercise their benefit rights; to assist plan officials to understand the requirements of the relevant statutes in order to meet their legal responsibilities; to develop policies and regulations that encourage the growth of employment-based benefits; and to deter and correct violations of the relevant statutes through strong administrative, civil and criminal enforcement.
Employment Standards Administration (ESA)
To enhance the welfare and protect the rights of American workers.
- Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs: To ensure that employers doing business with the Federal government comply with the laws and regulations requiring nondiscrimination.
- Office of Labor Management Standards: To ensure standards of democracy and financial integrity and transparency in labor organizations representing American workers.
- Office of Workers' Compensation Programs: To protect the interests of eligible workers, employers and the Federal government by ensuring timely and accurate claims adjudication and provision of benefits, by responsibly administering the funds authorized for this purpose, and by restoring injured workers to gainful work when permitted by the effects of the injury.
- Wage and Hour Division: To promote and achieve compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of the Nation's workforce.
Employment and Training Administration (ETA)
To contribute to the more efficient functioning of the U.S. labor market by providing high quality job training, employment, labor market information, and income maintenance services primarily through state and local workforce investment systems.
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
To administer the provisions of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act) and to enforce compliance with mandatory safety and health standards as a means to eliminate fatal accidents; to reduce the frequency and severity of nonfatal accidents; to minimize health hazards; and to promote improved safety and health conditions in the Nation's mines.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM)
To provide the infrastructure and support that enables the Department of Labor to perform its mission. OASAM provides leadership and support for Departmental business operations and procurement; budget and finance; information technology; human resources and civil rights; security and emergency management; and strategic planning — and is the hub for DOL's implementation of the President's Management Agenda.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy (OASP)
To provide advice and assistance to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary in a number of areas, including policy development, regulations, program implementation, compliance assistance strategies, program evaluations, research, budget and performance analysis, and legislation. OASP also provides analytical support to the Secretary, Deputy Secretary and Policy Planning Board with respect to policy issues and trends which require economic analyses or other expertise including preparing recommendations and analyses with respect to long- and short-term economic trends; preparation of economic studies and analyses related to the formulation of policy; and economic analyses related to economic impact of Departmental policies, regulations, and programs on general labor policy in the U.S.
Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO)
To deliver the right information to the right people at the right time. OCFO establishes financial management models based on principles of sound fiscal control, accountability, and customer service in order to ensure transparent, efficient, consistent, and effective stewardship of DOL's financial resources.
Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
To provide national leadership by developing and influencing disability-related employment policy as well as practice affecting the employment of people with disabilities.
Office of Inspector General (OIG)
To conduct audits and evaluations to review the effectiveness, efficiency, economy, and integrity of all DOL programs and operations, including those performed by its contractors and grantees. This work is conducted in order to determine whether: the programs and operations are in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations; DOL resources are efficiently and economically being utilized; and DOL programs achieve their intended results.
In addition, the OIG is unique among Inspectors General because it has an "external" program function to conduct criminal investigations to combat the influence of labor racketeering and organized crime in the nation's labor unions. The OIG conducts labor racketeering investigations in three areas: employee benefit plans, labor-management relations, and internal union affairs.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
To assure the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health.
Office of Job Corps
As a national, residential training program, Job Corps' mission is to attract eligible young adults, teach them the skills they need to become employable and independent, and place them in meaningful jobs or further education.
Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP)
To administer the Department of Labor's responsibility to ensure procurement opportunities for small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned small businesses, HUBZone businesses, and businesses owned by service-disabled veterans. OSBP serves as the Department's Ombudsman for small businesses under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act, and is active in the Department of Labor's compliance assistance activities. OSBP also manages the minority colleges and universities program in order to support the participation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders within the Department's programs and plans.
Office of the Solicitor (SOL)
To meet the legal service demands of the entire Department of Labor.
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)
To encourage the continuation and maintenance of private-sector defined benefit pension plans, provide timely and uninterrupted payment of pension benefits, and keep pension insurance premiums at a minimum.
Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS)
To provide veterans and transitioning service members with the resources and services to succeed in the 21st Century workforce by maximizing their employment opportunities, protecting their employment rights and meeting labor-market demands with qualified veterans.
Women's Bureau (WB)
To promote the well being of wage-earning women, improve their working conditions, increase their efficiency, and advance their opportunities for profitable employment.
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