Equity

On his first day in office, President Biden issued a historic charge to all federal agencies: First, assess how well government programs are reaching historically underserved communities—including people of color and others who have been underserved, marginalized, and affected by persistent poverty and inequality.

Read more about Chief of Staff for the Women's Bureau, Nikkilia Lu, and her fight for intersectional justice continues to increase wages, eliminate caregiving penalties and combat sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace for women workers.

Read about Edward Mitchell, an independent living specialist and outreach coordinator, and his work to educate and assist people with disabilities to plan and save for their future.

Just as you see curb-cuts on every sidewalk today, the department is working to create curb-cut effects in every program and policy we administer by improving access to those who have historically faced the greatest barriers. 

At the U.S. Department of Labor, we’ve been taking a whole-of-department approach to advancing equity for underserved communities since President Biden issued the executive order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities on his first day in office.

Learn how workforce initiatives in Birmingham are ensuring greater equity and inclusion.

Learn how the Veterans' Employment and Training Service is advancing equity and inclusion in our programs and initiatives.

Christina Coleman-Lovelace, a community outreach and resource planning specialist at the Wage and Hour Division’s Birmingham, Alabama, District Office, shares how her family’s civil rights legacy inspired her career in public service.

Women and people of color are overrepresented in low-wage jobs that lack essential benefits. This is one of the biggest barriers to economic equity.

See how the U.S. Department of Labor is using data to improve our work and make sure we’re serving all America’s workers equitably.