Diversity is one of the defining strengths of America and the diversity of our workforce is essential to accomplishing the mission areas of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
It is important to have a workforce that reflects the diversity of the nation we serve. Moreover, DOL is committed to diversity and inclusion throughout the Department to ensure a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and skills to provide better solutions, drive innovation and creativity, and enhance decision making.
Committed employees from the Department interact with millions of people from across the country and around the world to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights. Given the complexity of these mission areas, diversity is a mission imperative. Additionally, we are continuously focusing on creating a culture of inclusion that values each individual and promotes collaboration and fairness.
Executive Order 13583, Establishing a Coordinated Government-Wide Initiative to Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Federal Workforce, was signed on August 18, 2011. In 2017, the Department of Labor issued its Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan, which included the following goals:
- Goal 1: Secure a high-performing workforce drawn from all segments of American society
- Goal 2: Cultivate a culture that encourages collaboration, flexibility, and fairness to enable individuals to contribute to their full potential, feel valued and supported
- Goal 3: Institutionalize diversity and inclusion as a key strategic priority, through continued leadership commitment, accountability, and total workforce engagement
Ensuring a diverse and inclusive workforce enables DOL to be more responsive to the public we serve and better equipped in fulfilling the full scope of our mission areas. Achieving diversity and inclusion at DOL is a team effort. Together, we support a workplace that offers every individual the opportunity to attain professional goals and contribute to accomplishing the Department of Labor’s mission.
