DOLs

DOLs most commonly refer to the United States Department of Labor, a federal cabinet-level department of the U.S. government. Established in 1913 through the Department of Labor Act, its mandate is to promote the welfare of wage earners, job seekers, and retirees by administering and enforcing labor laws and programs.

The department enforces wage and hour protections, workplace safety, and labor standards; administers unemployment insurance and job training programs; and conducts labor-market research. It operates through several agencies, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS), and the Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS). The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is an independent agency that operates under the DOL to protect private defined-benefit pension plans.

History: The department was created during the Progressive Era to centralize labor policymaking and enforcement. It has overseen the development of major statutes such as the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act (minimum wage and overtime) and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA). Over time, DOL programs expanded to cover job training, unemployment insurance, retirement security, and workforce data collection.

Organization and data: The secretary of labor, a cabinet member, leads the department from its Washington, D.C., headquarters. DOL agencies collect and publish labor statistics, administer federal labor standards, and advise on policy affecting workers, employers, and public programs. In addition to enforcement, the department supports research, training, and the dissemination of workforce information used by policymakers and the public.