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What does the do?

Updates published annually

The Department of Labor (DOL) is an executive branch agency responsible for overseeing the American labor force and working conditions. Its functions include enforcing wage and hour standards and union law, regulating workplace safety, administering unemployment benefits and workers’ compensation, collecting labor market data, and promoting workforce development. It was established in 1913.

In FY 2024,

$54.3B

was spent by the Department of Labor
In FY 2024,

0.8%

of federal spending was by the Department of Labor

How much does the Department of Labor spend?

The Department of Labor spent $54.3 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 0.8% of the $6.78 trillion in overall federal spending. The department ranked 11th among federal agencies in total spending.

The Department of Labor accounted for 0.8% of all federal spending in FY 2024.

Share of DOL net spending compared to the top ten highest spending agencies in FY 2024

Federal spending may shift over time due to population growth, changes in policy and programs, and emerging problems to address. Adjusting for inflation, the Department of Labor’s federal spending has decreased from $119 billion in 1980 to $54.3 billion in 2024.

The Department of Labor’s federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

Yearly federal net spending by DOL, adjusted for inflation (2024 dollars), FYs 1980–2024

Since 1980, the Department of Labor's spending has decreased 54.4%, while overall spending has increased 193.7%.
The department’s spending grew less than overall spending, which means that the department’s share of the federal budget decreased. In 2024, DOL accounted for 0.8% of all federal spending. That’s 0.8 percentage points lower than 2014 and 4.4 points lower than in 1980.
Major legislation, internal or global economic conditions, and acute events like the COVID-19 pandemic can affect spending year to year. For example, the federal budget fluctuated during the pandemic, rising from $5.3 trillion (in 2023 dollars) in 2019 to $7.7 trillion in 2020 and $7.8 trillion in 2021.

The Department of Labor’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

Percentage of federal budget dedicated to DOL, FYs 1980–2024

Most federal spending can be categorized as direct or indirect. Direct spending refers to money the federal government spends on budget items such as federal programs, employee salaries, and debt interest. Indirect spending refers to federal transfers to state and local governments.
In FY 2024, the Department of Labor transferred 19.9% of its total spending to states and local governments.
The chart below outlines all DOL spending.

How did the Department of Labor spend its budget in 2024?

Federal government net spending isolated to DOL, FY 2024

Federal agencies often contain divisions including bureaus, offices, and subagencies. In FY 2024, the Department of Labor divisions with the highest expenditures were the Employment and Training Administration, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Department of Labor's highest-spending division is the Employment and Training Administration.

DOL net spending by division, FY 2024

Read related content about the Department of Labor:

  • Unemployment in the US: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who are actively looking for work but not currently employed. It's a common way to measure the health of the job market and economy.
  • Job openings in the US: The number of job openings is one measure of employer demand for workers and is a commonly referred-to economic indicator.

How many people work for the Department of Labor?

Some 15,000 of the 2.31 million total civilian federal employees work for the Department of Labor as of September 2024. This is 19.1% more people than the department staffed in 2010.

The number of federal employees working for the Department of Labor has increased 19.1% since 2010.

Number of federal employees working for DOL, September 2010–2024

DOL accounts for 0.6% of the overall federal workforce. As the number of federal employees has changed, so too has the way the workforce is organized, with resources allocated to agencies depending on government priorities. DOL constituted a similar share of the overall federal workforce in September 2024 than in 2010 (0.6%).
While the number of employees on an agency’s payroll contributes to that agency’s expenditures, some agencies have relatively few employees compared to their budget or vice versa, giving them an outsized share of either the budget or the workforce. According to the most recent data, the Department of Labor’s share of the workforce (0.6%) is smaller than its share of the budget (0.8%).

Who leads the Department of Labor?

The DOL is headed by the secretary of Labor, who is nominated by the president, confirmed by the Senate, and then sworn into office. They are one of the 15 cabinet members who serve at the president’s discretion. This appointed position typically ends when the appointee resigns, is replaced, or when a new president assumes office and appoints their own cabinet, though some may serve temporarily during transitions between administrations.

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.

  • Office of Personnel Management

    FedScope

  • Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury

    Budget of the US Government and Monthly Treasury Statement

    Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury logo