Secretary Marty Walsh

With 10 million jobs added since President Biden took office and an average of more than 370,000 per month over the last three months, this economy continues to produce strong and steady job growth that benefits workers and their families.

At 75, the Bureau of International Labor Affairs is ushering in a new era of global action on labor rights, including the rights to freely choose a union and collectively bargain for better wages and working conditions.

As we recognize Labor Day in 2022, Secretary Walsh highlights a few of the many ways the U.S. Department of Labor and the Biden-Harris administration are empowering workers.

Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 528,000 jobs in the month of July, and the unemployment rate ticked down to 3.5 percent.  

One year ago, when President Biden signed the Executive Order Promoting Competition in the American Economy on July 9, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor began work on a number of initiatives, as part of a whole-of-government effort to promote competition. In the last year, the Department of Labor has taken concrete steps to eliminate anti-competitive employer practices that can harm workers’ bargaining power and reduce wages and benefits.

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. 

Every person deserves to retire with dignity and receive the benefits they earned through their years of hard work. Pensions are critical to the economic security of many retired workers and their families, who depend on these benefits to pay their housing and living expenses, medical bills and so much more.

Yesterday, along with the Families and Workers Fund, the U.S. Department of Labor convened leaders from federal, state and local government, labor unions and private sector organizations for our Good Jobs Summit.