Secretary: Rep. Hilda Solis
Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20210
202.693.5000
www.dol.gov







Role: The Secretary is the principal adviser to the President on the development and execution of policies and the administration and enforcement of laws relating to wage earners, their working conditions, and their employment opportunities.

Background: The Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners of the United States, to improve their working conditions, and to advance their opportunities for profitable employment. In carrying out this mission, the Department administers a variety of Federal labor laws guaranteeing workers’ rights to safe and healthful working conditions, a minimum hourly wage and overtime pay, freedom from employment discrimination, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation. The Department also protects workers’ retirement and health care benefits; provides for job training programs; helps workers find jobs; works to strengthen free collective bargaining; and keeps track of changes in employment prices, and other national economic measurements. As the Department seeks to assist all Americans who need and want to work, special efforts are made to meet the unique job market problems of older workers, youths, minority group members, women, individuals with disabilities, and other groups.

Historical Note: The Department of Labor was created by act of March 4, 1913 (29 U.S.C. 551). A Bureau of Labor was first created by Congress by act of June 24, 1884, in the Interior Department. The Bureau of Labor later became independent as a Department of Labor without executive rank by act of June 13, 1888. It again returned to bureau status in the Department of Commerce and Labor, which was created by act of February 14, 1903 (15 U.S.C. 1501; 29 U.S.C. 1 note).


Agencies under Jurisdiction:

Employment and Training Administration
202.693.2700
www.eta.gov

Employment Benefits Security Administration
866.444.3272
www.dol.gov/ebsa

Employment Standards Administration
Department of Labor
Room S-3524
200 Constitution Avenue
Washington, DC 20210
202.693.0001
www.dol.gov/dol/esa

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20210
202.693.1999

Mine Safety and Health Administration

Office of Disability Employment Policy
202.693.7881
www.dol.gov/odep

Bureau of Labor Statistics
Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20210
www.bls.gov

Veterans’ Employment and Training Service
Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20210
202.693.4700

Source: United States Government Manual