As secretary, I pledge to work in partnership with workers and businesses; states, cities and tribal territories; employees in every agency of the Department of Labor; and President Biden and Vice President Harris to help working families build back better.

Here are five facts about the current status of working women in America that may shock you, but will hopefully inspire you to join our efforts to promote pay equity. 

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, public demand for information about the Department of Labor’s critical services has skyrocketed. With modernized infrastructure already in place, our Office of the Chief Information Officer swiftly responded to meet the new technology challenges.

Our Office of Disability Employment Policy reaches across state lines to advance disability-inclusive workforce policies.

With the resources the American Rescue Plan allocates towards shoring up and revamping our unemployment system, we are investing in a more equitable, secure and accessible safety net for America’s workers.

Here are five numbers to help you make sense of the latest employment situation report.

Black Americans in the civil rights movement have had a significant influence on America’s disability rights movement, with some playing crucial roles in both efforts.

Full inclusion means employees with disabilities can access a range of necessary supports to excel and help their teams and businesses succeed – including technology.

The Women’s Bureau has always been at the forefront of advocating for working women, including supporting racial equity and inclusion in the workplace through our initiatives and research.

In every economic recession of the last 50 years, Black women have had higher unemployment rates than white men – and the recovery rates of Black men and women have been slower than white workers. Read how building a more inclusive economy benefits us all.