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5 things to know about unemployment insurance progress in 2024 Unemployment insurance (UI) programs provided critical benefits to more than 53 million Americans and pumped $880 billion into the economy when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, but the challenges in delivering this life-supporting aid led to calls for a system overhaul. States were overwhelmed by a surge of claims, and many

Year in review: Five major IT innovations in 2024 The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) has been hard at work over the past year, dedicated to championing IT innovations with America’s workers in mind. Here are five ways we improved technology at the Department of Labor in 2024. Enhanced the user experience ondol.gov:OCIO is increasing language accessibility, including

A tale of our top 2024 memes A lot has happened this year, and we’ve had a lot of fun sharing the work the Department of Labor has done on our social media channels. Let’s take a moment to look back at the year’s most memorable, most “liked” and most engaging meme posts that had followers double-tapping, sharing and maybe

Boosting efficiency with AI: real-world success stories At the Department of Labor, we’re on the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence to not only enhance jobs but also to streamline operations and elevate our customer service experience. We’re excited to introduce… Instant Answers for Inclusive Job Searches The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP), co-managed by the Department of Labor’s Office of

No golden years: The wage gap for older women of color Older women workers of color face wage penalties for their age, their gender and their race. Indeed, the wage gap for full-time, full-year workers is particularly sizable for older Black and Hispanic women – who at the median are paid just 60 cents and 52 cents, respectively – for

Making an impact for misclassified workers As 2024 comes to a close, it’s a good time to reflect on how the U.S. Department of Labor delivers results for workers across the country. We’re particularly proud of enforcing minimum wage and overtime protections for employees who were misclassified as independent contractors. Since January 2021, we’ve recovered over $41 million in back

More than numbers: Delivering life-changing results When one woman answered a phone call from the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), we gave her the good news she would never forget – we recovered $31,000 that her husband’s retirement plan owed him. She said it was a “miracle” because they had been struggling to pay his health expenses. But this wasn’t

Far from home, worker calls Labor Department, desperate for help It was my fourth year as a Wage and Hour investigator when I got the call that would lead me to a powerful lesson: As a U.S. Department of Labor employee, I can make a difference. A Peruvian sheepherder, who spoke mostlyQuechua, was hired as an H-2A worker with a

Right fit, right protection Imagine an athlete stepping into a game without the right gear — risky right? Helmets, pads and the proper shoes aren’t just accessories, they’re essential to keep them safe. The workplace is no different. Personal protective equipment, or PPE, is designed to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses. But PPE

A global affirmation of disability rights Taryn M. Willams with four other attendees of the G7 Ministerial Meeting on Inclusion and Disability. On Dec. 3, we marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which aims to promote the rights and well-being of disabled people across all sectors of society. First proclaimed by a United Nations General Assembly