Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • The United States federal executive department responsible for matters related to labor, employment, and working conditions: The Labor Department is a cabinet-level department of the U.S. government. Its primary mission is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of wage earners, job seekers, and retirees; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

Usage

• The term Labor Department is used as a proper noun to refer specifically to this U.S. government institution. It is often preceded by the definite article "the" (e.g., ). It functions as the subject or object in a sentence.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Labor Department released its monthly jobs report.
  • She works for the Labor Department as an economist.
  • Companies must comply with regulations issued by the Labor Department.

Advanced Usage

• "Labor Department data": Refers to statistical information, such as employment figures or inflation metrics, published by the department.
  • Investors closely watch Labor Department data on consumer prices.
• "Labor Department officials": Refers to the individuals who work for or represent the department.
  • Labor Department officials testified before Congress about the new safety rules.

Variants and Related Words

• Department of Labor (DOL): This is the official, formal name of the department. "Labor Department" is a common shortened form.
  • The Department of Labor was created in 1913.
• Secretary of Labor: The title of the head of the Labor Department, a member of the President's cabinet.
  • The Secretary of Labor announced a new apprenticeship initiative.

Synonyms

• DOL: A common initialism for the Department of Labor.
• Labor agency: A more general term that could refer to this or similar government bodies, though it is less specific than the proper noun "Labor Department."

Related Phrases

• "according to the Labor Department": A phrase used to attribute a statistic or statement to this official source.
  • Unemployment fell to 3.8%, according to the Labor Department.
• "Labor Department regulation": A rule or order issued by the department having the force of law.
  • The new Labor Department regulation expands overtime pay eligibility.

Noun

1. the federal department responsible for promoting the working conditions of wage earners in the United States; created in 1913