Department of Labor

The Department of Labor oversees the rules and programs that shape the American workplace, from how safely a job can be performed to how workers find work and get paid. It sets and enforces standards for wages, hours, and workplace conditions, tracks the health of the labor market, and administers programs that support workers who lose jobs or need new skills.

Workplace safety is one of the department’s most visible responsibilities. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets and enforces the rules employers must follow to protect workers from injury and illness on the job, covering everything from protective equipment to how new technologies are integrated into existing workplaces.

Finding work and building skills is another core function. Federal and state agencies working under the department’s umbrella fund job training, placement services, and career counseling, as explained in A Guide to Each State’s Job Training and Placement Programs, which helps job seekers connect with these resources wherever they live.

Support during unemployment rounds out the department’s work. When workers lose their jobs through no fault of their own, they can turn to What Are Unemployment Benefits? to understand how this safety net functions, and to How to Apply for Unemployment Benefits for the practical steps involved in filing a claim.