WASHINGTON – At today’s National Cyber Workforce and Education Summit at the White House, Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the 120-Day Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint, an effort to support numerous industries’ use of Registered Apprenticeships to develop and train a skilled and diverse cybersecurity workforce.

The 120-Day Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint supports the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to expand Registered Apprenticeships to meet industry’s need for talent and to connect underserved communities to good jobs. Improving the nation’s cybersecurity apparatus is critical to the nation’s economic and national security, and today’s announcement will ensure enough qualified applicants are prepared for these careers.

“The 120-Day Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint will increase awareness of current successful cybersecurity-related Registered Apprenticeship programs while recruiting employers and industry associations to expand and promote Registered Apprenticeships as a means to provide workers with high-quality, earn-as-you-learn training for good-paying cybersecurity jobs,” said Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “These newly trained workers will help protect our critical infrastructure, advance our digital way of life, strengthen our economy and improve access to cybersecurity career paths for underrepresented communities, especially women, people of color, veterans and people with disabilities.”

“Right now, we have hundreds of thousands of critical cybersecurity jobs open, and Registered Apprenticeships are key to training new workers and connecting them to these opportunities,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “The Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint will help build employer-led partnerships that will meet the industry’s need for talent and allow Americans to access quality, high-paying jobs. By using the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity, employers will ensure that all apprentices benefit from a standardized approach to cybersecurity education and training.”

The partnership between the departments of Labor, Commerce, other federal agencies and the White House Office of the National Cyber Director seeks to recruit employers, industry associations, labor unions, educational providers, community-based organizations and others to establish Registered Apprenticeship programs or to join existing programs to ensure the nation’s economic sectors have greater numbers of qualified cybersecurity workers. The sprint will continue until National Apprenticeship Week, Nov. 14-20, 2022.

There are currently 714 registered apprenticeship programs and 42,260 apprentices in cybersecurity-related occupations. Since Jan. 20, 2021, 199 new programs have been created – a 28 percent increase during the Biden-Harris administration. The 120-Day Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint will build upon this progress and focus on creating new pathways for workers in cybersecurity or a related field through partnerships with K-12, higher education, workforce partners and training programs. Introducing more employers to the potential of cybersecurity Registered Apprenticeships is essential to fill the nearly 700,000 open cybersecurity jobs, which span all industries.

Registered Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience with a mentor, classroom instruction and a portable, nationally recognized credential. Registered Apprenticeships are an effective recruitment, retention and training strategy to build a skilled and diverse workforce. 

Learn more about the Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint and Registered Apprenticeships.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement on the June 2022 Employment Situation Report:

“Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 372,000 jobs in the month of June, and the unemployment rate remained at 3.6 percent for the fourth consecutive month. Since President Biden took office America has added over nine million jobs, and the private sector economy has now more than fully recovered from its pandemic-era job losses – a major milestone that reflects both the success of the administration’s economic policies and the profound resilience of America’s businesses and workers.

“Building on the historically strong recovery made possible by the American Rescue Plan, the economy is transitioning into steady, stable job growth that benefits America’s workers. Unemployment remains low and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is investing billions of dollars into communities and creating good jobs all across the country. In addition, the manufacturing sector is now fully recovered and the hard-hit childcare services and nursing and residential care sectors are growing. This economy is working for working families.

"Many of the workers most adversely affected by the pandemic – particularly women, people of color, people with disabilities, lower-wage workers and workers from other historically marginalized communities – are benefitting from this recovery through higher wages and more job opportunities. However, they still face barriers to finding quality jobs. The Department of Labor is directly addressing these longstanding inequities via its Good Jobs Initiative, including through the expansion of equity-focused workforce development. This week the department awarded nearly $122 million in Apprenticeship Building America grants to programs across the country that provide diverse workers with new skills and guaranteed pathways into good, in-demand jobs. We also announced up to $140 million in funding available through Quality Jobs, Equity, Strategy and Training grants to provide jobs and employment training and services for America’s unemployed and underemployed workers. We are committed to empowering all workers morning, noon and night to take advantage of this strong economy and achieve equitable pathways into the middle class.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement regarding the termination of the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers Program:

“Since it was first established by the Trade Act of 1974, the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers Program has provided training, income support, employment and case management services, job search and relocation allowances to eligible, certified worker groups for benefits due to job losses or wage reductions resulting from global trade. TAA has helped more than 2.5 million workers obtain the skills, training, resource and support they need to become reemployed in quality jobs.

“The termination of TAA affects nearly 100,000 workers annually who depend on adjustment assistance. Additionally, thousands of workers who experience layoffs after June 30, 2022, and would have been entitled to receive benefits will no longer be eligible for TAA – even if they have a certified petition. The department is assessing how other Employment and Training Administration workforce programs can support these workers.

“Only Congress can affirm the importance of TAA and reauthorize the program. Until then, the department will continue to work with state officials to administer all entitlements under the TAA for Workers Program until the last worker leaves.

“The Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers Program expired last night at 11:59 p.m. ET and the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration has begun phasing-out activities. The termination provisions under Section 285(a) of the Trade Act of 1974 require the department to cease making determinations on petitions immediately. The department may continue to make determinations on requests to amend previously certified petitions.

“The department recently published a training and employment guidance letter to explain the operation status of petitions and investigations, fiscal funding and the administration of benefits and services for participants after June 30, 2022. Fiscal Year 2022 program training funds will be available to states through 2025.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade:

“The U.S. Supreme Court today overturned decades of constitutional precedent, now allowing states to ban or significantly restrict access to abortion. This decision means that women across the country will lose access to necessary reproductive medical care.

“Reproductive autonomy directly supports women’s ability to get an education, participate in the labor force, and increase their earning potential and it has helped to narrow the gender wage gap. Losing the right to reproductive freedom will have a catastrophic impact on women’s employment and economic security.  

“Access to abortion and all other personal reproductive choices is not only an issue of health and personal liberty, but also squarely an economic issue that determines the welfare of working women and their families. The Department of Labor will work to advance our mission by empowering women using every tool we have.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh today brought together a group of highly engaged private sector business leaders on June 23, 2022, to share ideas and discuss the implications for equity and job quality of workplace flexibilities in the wake of massive changes caused by the pandemic.

“Flexibility for working people is a cornerstone of opportunity, of equity and of inclusion – the pandemic certainly exposed this fact,” said Secretary Walsh in his opening remarks. “And at the same time, the pandemic also led to innovations in workplace flexibility. We saw workers and employers come together to figure out how to keep businesses open during a time of incredible hardship and uncertainty, and now they are working to figure out the ‘new normal.’”

Counselor to the Secretary Tanya Goldman kicked off the event and introduced Secretary Walsh. Following his remarks, Accenture’s North America Chief Human Resources Officer Kate Clifford, ADP’s Chief Economist Nela Richardson, The Raben Group’s Principal Whitney Tome and Well-Paid Maids Founder Aaron Seyedian then joined him for the panel.

Participants explored some of the deeper questions about this new business environment – going beyond remote work’s feasibility or desirability – to share their views about flexibility and leave policies that support workers when illness strikes or when faced with disabilities; workers at greater risk of COVID-19 infection; and those who balance caregiving responsibilities. The group also discussed ways employers can avoid distancing remote workers from workplace culture, hindering opportunities for networking and advancement and impeding fairness and equity.

The panelists emphasized the need to support workers holistically. Issues from mental health to paid leave are critical to employee productivity and retention – and to maintaining a strong business and a strong economy. As the department continues to develop its dialogues and partnerships on the Future of Work, these topics will remain a crucial subject of collaboration between the private sector and government.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh joined Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, Rep. Bobby Scott, White House Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mayor Mitch Landrieu and other leaders of federal, state and local government, labor unions and workforce organizations gathered today in Washington at the “Good Jobs” Summit, part of the initiative led by the department to help create and support good-quality jobs.

“This administration is unified around the concept of a good job,” said Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “I have seen it in my own life and throughout my career: good jobs change lives and lift up whole families. We have the opportunity right now to lift up more people than ever before. Today’s summit represents the partnerships we need to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure and address the generational challenges we face from climate change to global competition, to public health, to racial justice and gender equity.”

During the event, Secretary Walsh announced the “Good Jobs Principles,” a coordinated effort with the Department of Commerce to provide employers, workers, federal agencies, state and local governments, and other advocates with a roadmap to advance the goal of quality jobs for all workers.

“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, millions of additional good-paying jobs are in the pipeline. As these new jobs are being created, we must ensure that workers can gain the in-demand skills needed to qualify for those good jobs,” said Rep. Bobby Scott, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. “We need to make sure that contractors and subcontractors pay the legally required prevailing wage and make sure that workers’ rights to join a union are recognized. We also need to make sure that workers who have been historically left out of the hiring process can access these good jobs and build a rewarding career.”

The summit included panel discussions on leveraging federal funding for good jobs with officials from the departments of Commerce, Energy and Transportation. Other panels focused on building partnerships among government, labor and private sector employers, and prioritizing good quality jobs – including equity and accessibility – through infrastructure projects across the country.

“The clean energy economy is a huge opportunity for communities and workers,” said Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. “We have to make sure workers can see in themselves the ability to power the nation for the next 100 years.”

The principles also provide a framework for creating good jobs and a more accessible workforce through federal government partnerships and investments, such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“Knowledge is a pathway to the future and this administration wants to level the playing field,” said White House Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “Building a better America means everybody gets an opportunity. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are not just building bridges, roadways, and high-speed internet, we are building a generation of high paying jobs. This is an incredible opportunity, and we have a magnificent responsibility to get it right.”

The event was hosted in collaboration with the Families and Workers Fund, a coalition of more than 20 diverse philanthropies working together to build a more equitable U.S. economy that uplifts all.

WASHINGTON – As the part of today’s publication of the Spring 2022 Regulatory Agenda by the Biden-Harris administration, the U.S. Department of Labor’s agenda has been posted online.

Required by Executive Order 12866, the semiannual agenda lists all regulations under active consideration in the one-year period ahead as well as longer-term regulatory actions, and ensures public engagement in the process of establishing regulations. 

“Beneath the surface of every regulation is a story about workers – and our values,” said Assistant Secretary for Policy Raj Nayak. “The agenda that we published today reflects Secretary Walsh’s commitment to empowering workers morning, noon and night. It also builds on the strides we have made throughout this recovery to bring equity, security, and a voice on the job to workers, the people who make our economy thrive.”

The department’s Spring 2022 agenda represents actions that complement its Good Jobs Initiative – which focuses on providing critical information to workers, employers and government as they work to improve job quality and create access to good jobs free from discrimination and harassment for all working people – and seeks to advance several of the Biden-Harris administration’s key priorities.

In support of these priorities, the department’s agenda memorializes its engagement with stakeholders as it considers a proposed rule on heat illness prevention at work, both indoors and outdoors. It lists final rules that clarify when retirement plans can account for climate-related financial risks and promote Registered Apprenticeships as the gold standard of the workforce and training system.

The agenda also contains rules that update affirmative action programs for federal supply and service contractors and subcontractors, modernize Davis-Bacon and Related Acts’ wage determinations, and address other important aspects of job quality and equity.

View the complete semiannual agenda.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Departments of Labor and Commerce today released the “Good Jobs Principles,” a coordinated effort to provide employers, workers, federal agencies, state and local governments, and other advocates with a roadmap to advance the goal of quality jobs for all workers.

Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh announced the principles today in Washington at the “Good Jobs Summit,” an all-day event with leaders of federal, state and local government, labor unions and workforce organizations to discuss how the federal government is empowering working people through policies that create and support good-quality jobs.

The principles outline the essential elements of a good job, including recruitment and hiring, pay and benefits, job security and career advancement, collective bargaining rights, and working conditions. The principles also prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility to expand access to stable and secure jobs, especially for those from underserved communities.

The principles also provide a framework for creating good jobs and a more accessible workforce through federal government partnerships and investments. Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, federal agencies have incentivized equity and good jobs in more than $50 billion of competitive grant funding to date.

“To stay competitive America needs a workforce that is strong, skilled, empowered and inclusive,” said Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “As our economy rebuilds, workers are empowered to seek better opportunities, and employers are seeking skilled talent and the right tools to attract and retain that talent. Working with our partners in the Department of Commerce, we can develop the essential elements of a good job that will help us create a more equitable and fairer workforce, and grow our economy.”

The Biden-Harris administration has made good jobs and equity for all Americans a cornerstone of the economic recovery. As part of that effort, the department launched the “Good Jobs” initiative in January 2022 to organize and direct federal government tools and resources toward the goal of promoting good jobs for all workers. The principles advance that mission by establishing the groundwork for more concrete strategies to achieve high quality jobs for all workers in our economy, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, women, immigrants, veterans, people with disabilities, and workers in rural communities.

“Creating jobs has been a top priority of the Biden-Harris administration since day one. Not only have we created a historic 8 million jobs but just as importantly, we have worked tirelessly to ensure Americans are returning to high-quality jobs that provide security and stability for American families while encouraging employers to recruit, train, and retain workers who can help their businesses flourish,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “To help achieve these goals, the departments of Commerce and Labor have formed an unprecedented partnership to ensure workers and businesses both benefit from high-quality, good paying jobs and today’s Good Jobs Principles will continue to help guide these efforts.”

Watch a livestream of today’s Good Jobs summit.

Learn more about the Good Jobs Initiative led by the Department of Labor.

WASHINGTON – The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force, which includes the U.S. Department of Labor as a member, today issued the “Strategy to Prevent Importation of Goods Mined, Produced, or Manufactured with Forced Labor in the People’s Republic of China,” as required by the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act prohibits goods made wholly or in part in the Xinjiang region of the People’s Republic of China or produced by certain entities, included in the UFLPA Entity List, from being imported into the U.S. The act directs the task force to develop a strategy to support enforcement of the prohibition on imports made with forced labor from entering the U.S. The act institutes a rebuttable presumption that goods made in Xinjiang, or by related entities, are made with forced labor unless proved otherwise.

The UFLPA strategy includes a comprehensive risk assessment, a forced labor scheme evaluation, and a list of entities and goods subject to the rebuttable presumption that their imports are made with forced labor. It also provides importer guidance on due diligence, effective supply chain tracing, and supply chain management measures. Importers of goods made in whole or in part in Xinjiang or by entities on the UFLPA Entity List must comply with this guidance in order to import such goods.

“The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act provides the U.S. government with powerful new tools to combat forced labor, which align with the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to eradicate forced labor from U.S. supply chains” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “We take the mandate from Congress to enforce these new provisions very seriously and are determined to prevent American consumers from inadvertently purchasing goods made with forced labor. The law is very clear, the onus is on importers to demonstrate they are not in violation of the act. The U.S. has zero tolerance for businesses profiting from genocide and crimes against humanity.”

Members of the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force will hold recurring meetings with the private sector and non-governmental organizations on this strategy.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today released its inaugural Enterprise Data Strategy, a three-year plan by the department’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy that will guide department efforts to improve its data collection, management and use and enhance its ability to share data to advance opportunity and equity for the nation’s workers. 

Deputy Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su will announce the plan at today’s “Putting Data to Work on behalf of America’s Workers” event at the Brookings Institution in Washington.

“Without strong data, we cannot take wise action,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su. “The U.S. Department of Labor’s data is powerful because of what we can do with it. Even more importantly, the data is powerful because of what others can do with it. When cutting edge data is put in the hands of advocates, unions, employers, researchers, workers and others, the nation’s economy benefits.”

The Enterprise Data Strategy includes four guiding principles and five goals that together can help the department develop more consistent and effective data governance and align agency planning to improve data management. The four guiding principles seek to make data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable, also known as the FAIR principles.

The strategy’s five strategic goals are ensuring data are managed to be open by default, are comprehensible, are fit for purpose, are available in consistent and predictable ways, and that data is managed as an enterprise asset that incorporates stakeholder input, and as appropriate, made public in ways that provide real benefit to data users.

The Enterprise Data Strategy describes initial areas of focus and strategic goals to advance organizational and cultural change, strengthen governance, increase data talent, improve data documentation, modernize data infrastructure, integrate data management into existing systems, and expand data use to inform program administration.

In addition, the department today published its first Open Data Request for Information in the Federal Register to solicit comments, feedback and suggestions from the public for targeted improvements on data quality, availability and modes of access.