This Labor Day, we honor American workers and celebrate the strength and diversity of our nation’s workforce. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring that all workers—including women, people of color, veterans, and those that have been historically left behind—have equitable access to job opportunities and are equipped with the skills needed to secure good-paying jobs.

Thanks to funding from the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic CHIPS and Science Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act, the Department of Commerce is connecting Americans to high quality jobs. Since January 2021, the Department of Commerce has dedicated more than $1.6 billion dollars to workforce investments. These investments are creating hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs—many of which do not require a college degree—to rebuild U.S. supply chains, bring semiconductor manufacturing back to the U.S. and connect everyone in America to high-speed internet.

As part of the President’s Investing in America agenda, the Commerce Department has prioritized proven earn-and-learn models like Registered Apprenticeships and partnered with local officials, employers, unions, community colleges, high schools, and other stakeholders to ensure a diverse and skilled workforce and meet the demand for labor. Since taking office, the Biden-Harris Administration has invested more than $440 million to expand the capacity of the Registered Apprenticeship system, supporting the education and training needs of more than one million apprentices across the country. 

“Workers are the heart and soul of our nation, and under the Biden-Harris Administration the Commerce Department is working hard to ensure our workers are empowered with the skills they need to secure good-paying jobs,” said Secretary Gina Raimondo. “Together, we’ve contributed to the creation of 16 million jobs, rising wages, and the lowest average unemployment rate in 50 years.”

America’s diversity is one of our greatest strengths, but only if everyone has an opportunity to participate. Secretary Raimondo continues to champion more representation of women in the workforce as well as the means to get there. Job openings in construction are at near record levels. However, women are vastly underrepresented. These jobs can be among the highest paid for workers without a college degree, and jobs in construction can offer career pathways and sustainable wages and benefits. To bring more workers into the construction industry, Commerce Secretary Raimondo has called for doubling the number of women over the next decade through the Million Women in Construction initiative. However, many women remain sidelined because of the lack of access to affordable and reliable childcare. During a recent National Child Care Summit, Secretary Raimondo called for sweeping investments in the care economy.

“The unemployment rate is at a historic low,” said Secretary Raimondo. “We need to find and train workers. A key part of this is childcare. Everyone should be able to participate in the workforce.”

Read more here about Commerce Department’s workforce development strategy.

As part of his economic agenda, President Biden is committed to creating more American jobs and an economy that works for all Americans. Read President Biden’s Proclamation on Labor Day, 2024.