WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the designation of additional federally funded construction projects for participation in the Mega Construction Project Program. 

Launched by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs in March 2023, the program fosters equal opportunity in the construction trades workforce, helping to expand access to the millions of good-paying jobs being created by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. 

The Mega Construction Project Program brings the public and private sectors together on a select group of “megaprojects,” for which OFCCP provides contractors and subcontractors compliance assistance to strengthen recruitment, hiring and employment practices. The assistance focuses on removing barriers to opportunity for underrepresented communities including women, people of color, veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Megaprojects are large federal construction projects valued at $35 million or more – some part of which must be federal funding – and that last more than one year.

For each of these projects, OFCCP engages a wide range of community stakeholders – including unions, community-based organizations, pre-apprenticeship programs and registered apprenticeship programs – to provide contractors with connections to diverse recruitment sources, including in underrepresented and underserved communities, so that projects can fully tap into the local workforce and get the needed talent. 

The agency also provides technical assistance on how contractors can foster workplaces free from harassment and discrimination and address ongoing barriers to recruitment and retention. In addition, OFCCP conducts compliance reviews to evaluate contractors’ equal opportunity practices.

For the 12 newly designated megaprojects, OFCCP partnered with the Department of Transportation, Department of Energy, General Services Administration and Environmental Protection Agency. OFCCP applied a set of neutral criteria to designate megaprojects from a wider pool of eligible projects. These newly designated projects build on OFCCP’s designation earlier this year of 12 megaprojects funded by the Department of Transportation and GSA. 

The Mega Construction Project Program supports the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to growing the economy from the middle out and the bottom up by opening new pathways for workers to access good jobs that do not require a four-year degree. In providing assistance to remove barriers and promote equal opportunity, OFCCP supports the successful implementation of the administration’s historic investments from the Investing in America agenda – including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act – by aiding construction contractors in recruiting, hiring and retaining all available talent to advance the success of infrastructure projects across the nation. 

OFCCP looks forward to designating additional megaprojects in the future, potentially including projects funded by the Department of Commerce through the CHIPS and Science Act, as well as projects funded by the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The robust participation in this program by a range of federal agencies demonstrates the whole-of-government approach that the Biden-Harris administration is taking to combat discrimination and advance equal opportunity for all workers and communities.

“The Biden-Harris administration is committed to expanding equitable access to the good jobs being created across the country thanks to the President’s Investing in America agenda,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “Through the Megaproject Program, the Department of Labor is unleashing its full power to advance equal opportunity for qualified workers of all backgrounds, including those who have been historically left out or left behind.”       

“President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda is creating a new generation of good-paying careers nationwide and we are working to make sure everyone has a fair shot at those jobs,” said Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. “This compliance assistance from the Department of Labor will help ensure that those who have historically been underrepresented in construction and the trades, including women and people with disabilities, are part of the national effort to help build the vital infrastructure we will all need in the coming decades.”

“President Biden’s historic Investing in America agenda is building a thriving clean energy economy that is delivering high-quality, good-paying jobs in every pocket of the nation whether in the energy sector itself or for the construction projects that support it,” said Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “The Department of Energy is proud to partner with the Department of Labor to support the Biden-Harris administration’s whole-of-government approach to removing barriers to equal employment and expanding opportunities for workers across America.” 

“When President Biden talks about investing in America, he’s talking about investing in economic and environmental benefits for all,” said Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Thanks to the President’s leadership, EPA has unprecedented resources to clean up legacy contamination at America’s most polluted sites. Under this partnership with the Department of Labor, we’re leveraging these historic funds at one of our largest cleanup sites to bolster the local economy and create good paying jobs, all while protecting public health and our environment.”

“Ensuring federal construction projects benefit from the skills of a diverse and well-trained workforce is good for taxpayers and communities. We’re thrilled to be partnering with the Department of Labor to promote equal opportunity in the construction trades, close wage gaps for underserved groups, and advance the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to equitable economic growth,” said General Services Administration Administrator Robin Carnahan. 

“By fostering equal opportunity in the construction trades, the Megaproject Program is a game-changer for workers and job seekers,” explained Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Acting Director Michele Hodge. “OFCCP is expanding access to good, family-sustaining construction jobs that pave the road to the middle class.” 

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su issued the following statement on the September 2023 Employment Situation report:

“Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 336,000 jobs in September, while the unemployment rate remained steady at 3.8 percent, continuing the longest stretch under 4 percent unemployment since the 1960s. Wage growth has remained steady – up 4.3 percent over the past year. With 13.9 million jobs added since President Biden took office, our economy is strong and stable under the responsible leadership of the Biden-Harris administration. 

“The job market continues to bring workers off the sidelines, and today’s data show that our hospitality industry is experiencing a strong recovery with restaurants and bars adding 61,000 jobs in September – erasing all the job losses during the pandemic for the first time. Overall, 96,000 jobs were added in in leisure and hospitality. Of note on National Manufacturing Day, the manufacturing sector added 17,000 jobs in September, and 815,000 manufacturing jobs have been added since January 2021. 

“I’m also excited to announce today that the prime age women’s employment rate remains at 75.3 percent, a record high for the sixth month in a row. Women have powered our post-pandemic recovery and continue to strengthen our labor force. In order to continue this growth, we must remain committed to addressing structural barriers that keep some women out of the workforce. One of the largest barriers for women and working families is a lack of affordable childcare. That is why the President remains committed to fighting for childcare policies that support both working families and childcare workers. This administration strongly supports congressional efforts to secure additional childcare funding for hardworking families. 

“This month’s jobs report was more good news for workers showing job and wage increases as well as broad growth across industries This is a strong and stable jobs report showing a robust labor market that continues to provide employment opportunities for workers all over the country.”

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today published a fact sheet that clarifies protections under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act that prohibit certain forms of antisemitic, Islamophobic and related forms of discrimination in federally funded programs and activities. The publication marks the first time the department has put this guidance in writing.

The fact sheet and its clarification are key deliverables of the Biden-Harris administration’s National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism and its broader commitment to countering antisemitic, Islamophobic and related forms of discrimination and bias.

“The Biden-Harris administration is committed to protecting workers from discrimination and safeguarding principles of religious freedom, which are essential to creating a more equitable workforce for all, including applicants and participants in the workforce development system,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “An inclusive economy means all workers deserve a voice at the table, and that’s not possible if workers feel discriminated against because of their religion, race, color or national origin. The Department of Labor is committed to upholding workers’ rights and enforcing the law, protecting the civil rights of workers of all backgrounds.”

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin, applies to recipients of federal financial assistance, including grantees under programs administered by the department’s agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, and the Employment and Training Administration. 

Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin and religion, among other biases, and applies to recipients of federal funds under WIOA Title I, such as state workforce agencies. Section 188’s prohibition against discrimination based on religion protects individuals who belong to traditional, organized religions and to individuals who have sincerely held religious, ethical or moral beliefs.

In addition to the fact sheet, the department plans on issuing guidance to workforce development agencies throughout the nation on their legal responsibilities under Title VI and WIOA’s Section 188. In addition, the department plans to develop educational materials to help organized labor organizations, worker advocacy organizations and other community members to inform workers of their right to be free from discrimination in the workplace and how to file discrimination complaints.

The department is working vigorously to implement its commitments made in the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism. The strategy includes over 100 new actions the Biden-Harris administration will take to raise awareness of antisemitism and its threat to American democracy, protect Jewish communities, reverse the normalization of antisemitism and build cross-community solidarity. 

Anyone who believes that discriminatory actions have been taken by a covered entity may file a complaint with the department’s Civil Rights Center. The center promotes equal opportunities for workers by assessing, investigating and adjudicating discrimination complaints and conducting compliance reviews to administer and enforce equal opportunity laws. Learn more about filing a complaint. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of nearly $94 million in grants to support 34 public-private partnerships to provide worker-centered sector strategy training programs in 25 states and the District of Columbia to meet workforce needs created by the Biden-Harris administration’s “Investing in America” agenda.

Creating pathways to high-quality jobs, including union jobs, is a key component of Bidenomics, the President’s economic agenda, which is growing the U.S. economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not from the top down. 

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program will help grant recipients design, develop and grow training programs and work-based learning opportunities that prepare job seekers for high-demand, high-quality career pathways in advanced manufacturing, information technology and professional, scientific, and technical service occupations. The training will support jobs in the renewable energy, transportation and broadband infrastructure sectors created through the administration’s infrastructure investments. 

“The Department of Labor is making investments that will serve as a down payment to meet the skilled workforce needs of President Biden’s historic Investing in America agenda,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “The Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs funding will help to train job seekers in advance manufacturing, information technology and professional, scientific, and technical occupations that support renewable energy, transportation and broadband infrastructure. We look forward to working with our grantees to help to strengthen and expand our workforce to provide opportunities for good-paying, family-sustaining jobs.”

The funding will help grant recipients design programs driven by industry needs and worker voice and create equitable pathways to good-paying infrastructure jobs. The programs will emphasize the delivery of training and supportive services, particularly to those from rural or historically marginalized, underserved and underrepresented communities. 

“In order to rebuild this country back better than before, we must build career pathways to infrastructure jobs that include everyone. That’s why as President Biden’s Investing in America creates millions of good-paying union jobs, we’re expanding career training programs that unlock those opportunities to workers of all backgrounds,” said Senior Advisor to the President of the United States Mitch Landrieu. “This new, historic funding will help us put Americans to work as we grow our clean energy economy, expand access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet, and ensure that our infrastructure is resilient for decades to come.”

Projects funded by these grants will incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility; strong career pathways to middle-to-high skilled jobs; and a focus on increasing job quality. The Building Pathways grants complement the department’s ongoing work to meet our nation’s infrastructure workforce needs, including by aligning Registered Apprenticeships and workforce programs at community colleges, and supporting state and local partnerships seeking to leverage workforce funding to support high-quality training and supportive services. 

A list of the Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs grant recipients follows this release.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of more than $1.5 million in grants to support efforts by five community organizations to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and harassment against underserved and marginalized women workers.

Administered by the department’s Women’s Bureau and the Employment and Training Administration, the Fostering Access, Rights and Equity grants will help survivors and women at high risk for violence and harassment in the workplace.

“Eliminating gender-based violence and harassment wherever it exists is an administration priority, including in and around the workplace,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “The grants we’ve announced today reflect the Department of Labor’s commitment and strategy to ensure workers are safe and respected in their workplaces.”   

The FARE grant program supports community organizations’ projects to address gender-based violence and harassment. Workplace violence and harassment harms women from underserved and historically marginalized communities disproportionately. These communities include women of color, people who identify as LGBTQI+, women with disabilities and women affected by persistent poverty and inequality.

The grants announced today will have wide-reaching impact by supporting programs that — while based in Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas — will serve workers in those states as well as California, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina and Virginia. 

Grant recipients will provide the following types of support:

• Develop and distribute worker and survivor-centered materials to raise awareness.
• Design programs to prevent workplace gender-based violence and harassment.
• Connect working women to services, benefits and legal assistance.
• Encourage working women and survivors to become focal points in their communities and provide ways to expand their effectiveness through train-the-trainer programs, guided conversations, leadership circles or other activities.

“The Women’s Bureau exists to ensure equity for women in the workplace. We cannot achieve this goal until gender-based violence and harassment in the workplace ends. The Fostering Access, Rights and Equity grants will provide vital support to organizations dedicated to disrupting harmful norms and helping survivors find safety and security in the workplace,” explained Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon.

The Fostering Access, Rights and Equity grants recipients are as follows:

WASHINGTON – Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and the Department of Labor has inducted a group of Thai garment workers who helped expose their former employer’s abusive labor practices in 1995 into the department’s Hall of Honor. The group, who spurred changes in legal protections for workers nationwide, were honored at a ceremony held on Sept. 18, 2023, at the department’s Washington headquarters.

The department recognized the group, which became known as the “El Monte Thai Garment Workers,” for the resilience and courage they showed in overcoming their enslavement in a sweatshop in El Monte, California. In addition to helping protect other workers, their case serves as a valuable reminder of why continued vigilance and commitment is needed to prevent the horrors they faced from reoccurring. 

“What these workers experienced was not an isolated incident,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “The global economy has left too many behind for too long: leaving workers, especially women workers, with the responsibility to support their families without the good jobs with which to do so. Honoring these women and men here today allows us to celebrate how far we’ve come and also remember how much more work we have left to do. It also reminds us that real progress isn’t measured only in monetary wins or even in policy changes. The most profound changes are personal. Like our honorees, standing up, building power, exercising their rights, and against all odds defying the message they have heard their entire lives: that they should just keep their heads down and know their place.” 

Joining Acting Secretary Su to honor 25 of the 81 Thai women and men who attended the induction ceremony were Sen. Tammy Duckworth and UCLA Labor Center Director Kent Wong. 

“These workers found their power years after it had been wrested away from them, and with the help of advocates, attorneys, public servants and law enforcement agents who fought side by side with them, they finally tasted the freedom that America had long ago promised,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth. “Our nation is forever in debt to these men and women for the treatment they were forced to face right here at home. But we are also now forever thankful for how they used that experience to push the country that had so wronged them to do right by others.” 

“This case became a national model and an inspiration to workers across the country,” explained UCLA Labor Center Director Kent Wong “At the heart of this case was a group of mainly women, immigrant garment workers who stood up, spoke up and organized for justice. Today we celebrate their courage, their resilience and the power of their collective action.” 

“We are grateful and lucky that President Biden picked Julie to work in the Department of Labor to fight for all workers,” former El Monte garment Worker Nantha Jaknang said.

“I never imagined I would be honored at the Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. This means so much to me and my family. We brought the case against the companies; we went to the court. I know we worked very hard to stand up here for our rights. We changed the laws. This is very special, to speak in front of my family and all of you. I cannot believe I am going to be remembered in history along with my friends,” said Maliwan Radomphon Clinton, another member of the El Monte workers group.

Established in 1988, the Hall of Honor recognizes the accomplishments and impact of dozens of groups and individuals on the nation’s workforce and workplaces. The hall is located inside the north plaza of the department’s headquarters in the Frances Perkins Building.

View a recording of the livestreamed event. 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su issued the following statement on Labor Day 2023:

“On Labor Day, we honor the achievements of workers, while re-committing to the work that remains to build an equitable, empowered economy for all. We have a lot to celebrate this year. Since President Biden took office, we’ve added more than 13.5 million jobs to the economy. The unemployment rate has maintained an historically long stretch below 4 percent, and more workers are returning to the workforce.

“We’re investing in America’s workers by expanding access to good jobs with good pay and benefits, all while creating pathways to the middle class. Under President Biden’s Invest in America agenda, workers across the country are delivering new roads, safer bridges, affordable internet, clean drinking water, a cleaner climate, and a manufacturing boom. All of these projects are also an opportunity to make our workforce more accessible for workers who have been left behind in the past while creating good union jobs that support families and communities.

“As we reflect on all we’ve accomplished, we look forward to the work that remains: building equity into everything we do; using all the tools in our toolbox to protect workers’ rights, wages, health and safety; and supporting workers’ right to fight for higher wages and better working conditions.

“I am inspired by the opportunities ahead, and I am committed to working as hard as you are to move our country forward.

“I hope you have a wonderful and safe Labor Day.”

WASHINGTON – Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su issued the following statement on the August 2023 Employment Situation report: 

“Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 187,000 jobs, an indication that the economy continues its strong and steady growth as we return to normal following the breakneck pace of our rapid recovery. Solid increases in health care and social assistance, along with continued gains in construction and manufacturing, also reflect broad economic growth across different sectors.

“As more people entered the labor market looking for work, the labor force participation rate increased to a post-pandemic recovery high of 62.8 percent. The unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 3.8 percent from 3.5 percent in July because more people saw an opportunity to work, and they started looking for a job. This is another sign of the optimism that people are feeling about this economy—they’re not sitting on the sidelines.

“I’m also excited to announce today that for the first time ever, BLS has started providing monthly disaggregated data for Asian American ethnic groups on key economic metrics, such as unemployment rate, employment-population ratio, and labor force participation rate. Being responsive to this new granular data on Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and other Asian workers is an important step toward rebuilding a more equitable economy and telling a more comprehensive story about the issues facing the diverse groups and communities within the larger AA and NHPI community.”

“As we head into Labor Day weekend, workers across the country have many reasons to celebrate: Bidenomics is working, and the Investing in America agenda is creating good jobs that are building pathways to the middle class for more families in every corner of the country. Over 13.5 million jobs have been added since President Biden took office, and we are moving into a new stage of stable and equitable economic growth that is delivering on the promise of good jobs for all and lowering costs for working families everywhere.” 

WASHINGTON – To celebrate and recognize extraordinary individuals whose distinctive contributions to the field of labor elevated working conditions, wages and overall quality of life of America's working families, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced new inductees into its Hall of Honor.

The inductions will begin on Sept. 18 with a ceremony at which Acting Secretary Julie Su will honor the hall’s first 2023 inductees, the El Monte Thai Garment Workers.  

In August 1995, federal agents found 72 Thai workers toiling in a garment sweatshop in El Monte, California, sparking a national outcry and leading to a landmark case against human trafficking and forced labor. Through sheer determination and perseverance, the workers defied the odds and fought bravely for the freedom, rights and protections long denied to them. Their case galvanized significant changes in U.S. labor and immigration law. The workers remained in the U.S. and were provided a path to citizenship.

“The El Monte Thai garment workers serve as a lasting reminder of the importance of the Department of Labor’s mission to protect rights of all workers,” said Acting Secretary Su. “The importance of their contributions to labor and changes in federal labor and immigration laws cannot be understated. We are proud to recognize and welcome them to the department’s Hall of Honor.”

The department also announced that three individuals — Gerald Bostock, Donald Zarda and Aimee Stephens — will be inducted for their collective dedication to advancing workplace protections for the LGBTQ+ community. Each of their stories reflect the vital contributions they made to increasing workplace equity:

• Donald Zarda was living his dream as a skydiving instructor at Altitude Express in Long Island, New York, when, in 2010 he sought to ease a customer’s concern about being strapped to a male instructor by revealing to the woman that he was gay. After the customer later complained, Zarda’s employer fired him for misconduct. He sued his former employer alleging that they fired him based on his sexual orientation. In March 2014, the U.S District Court for the Eastern District of New York ruled in favor of Altitude Express. Although Zarda died in October of that year, his family appealed on his behalf, citing violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
• Aimee Stephens informed her employer in 2013 that she was taking leave to undergo gender affirmation surgery and would begin presenting as a woman when she returned. The Detroit-based Harris Funeral Homes group then fired Stephens, offering a severance package in exchange for her silence. Instead, she sued her former employer for wrongful termination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and remained unwavering in her fight for civil rights until her death on May 12, 2020.
• Gerald Bostock, a child welfare advocate in Clayton County, Georgia, decided to join a gay recreational softball league in 2013 and it cost him his job and benefits. Without health care insurance, he balanced his recovery from prostate cancer with a determination and will to fight against discrimination. He sued the county, challenging previous findings that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act did not cover employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Bostock, Stephens and the Zarda family pursued their cases to the U.S. Supreme Court, and in June 2020 the court issued a 6-3 decision in the case of Bostock v. Clayton County ruling that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The department recognizes Gerald Bostock, Donald Zarda and Aimee Stephens for their steadfast dedication to advancing workplace protections for the LGBTQ+ community.

Induction ceremonies for Bostock, Stephens and Zarda will be announced at a later date.

Established in 1988, the Hall of Honor is located inside the north plaza of the department’s Frances Perkins Building at 200 Constitution Ave NW in Washington.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of a $1.3 million grant to the State of Illinois and Chicago Women in Trades to support the creation of equity plans and their adoption and increase women’s inclusion and equity in construction industry jobs. Funds will also allow Illinois to evaluate state and local workforce development programs for diversifying the clean energy and construction workforce.

Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su and Gov. JB Pritzker made the announcement in Chicago. They were joined by the department’s Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon. 

“To build an economy from the bottom up and the middle out, we need a workforce that brings in all of America and this grant and others like it help to do just that,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “The Department of Labor is working closely with our partners at the federal, state and local level to ensure that workers, families and communities that have historically been left behind will benefit from the once-in-a-generation investments of the Biden-Harris administration. I’m glad to be joining Governor Pritzker to make this announcement, which will bring more women workers into good jobs in the construction industry.”   

Administered by the department’s Women’s Bureau, the Tradeswomen Building Infrastructure grant focuses on the historic investments in Illinois and throughout the nation by the Biden-Harris administration in infrastructure, manufacturing and clean energy in the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. As investments continue, the grant will help ensure that women have pathways into higher-paying building trades’ pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships and construction careers, while supporting the investments in American infrastructure and clean energy. 

“I’m pleased that the Biden-Harris administration has recognized the hard work Illinois tradeswomen have put in for decades by offering support for the next generation of women training in a field that has for far too long excluded and underrepresented them,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This is another example of how infrastructure investment, and President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in particular, have uplifted entire communities through an equity-centric approach, and I’m proud Illinois continues to play a major part in that work.” 

Teams led by tradeswomen’s organizations will build equity plans, promote their adoption and guide programming to increase women’s inclusion and equity more quickly. Gender equity is an administration-wide priority.

“While women are half the U.S. labor force, they represent barely 4 percent of the skilled trades within the construction workforce,” said Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon. “This grant is an opportunity to flip the script to help more women gain access to these typically higher-paying jobs.”  

In addition to bringing state and local-level infrastructure, labor and workforce training agencies to the table with pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, contractors and building trades unions, the state of Illinois will work with Chicago Women in Trades to expand the parameters of their related work, which was initiated last year.