The Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) works with agencies across the Department of Labor (DOL) to conduct rigorous and objective research on a variety of labor-related topic areas. CEO-sponsored studies support DOL's mission to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.
Below, explore evidence from completed and ongoing studies associated with some of DOL’s priority topic areas.
Learn more about future studies the Department plans to conduct in DOL’s most recent annual Evaluation Plan and explore more studies in the Clearinghouse for Labor Evaluation and Research.
Labor Research Scholars and Grants
DOL and CEO fund grants and awards to engage the academic community in efforts to build evidence for labor programs and policies that affect workers around the world. Read about current awards and final reports.
The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy. CEO’s research development process includes extensive technical review at the design, data collection and analysis stage, including: external contractor review and OMB review and approval of data collection methods and instruments per the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), Institutional Review Board (IRB) review to ensure studies adhere to the highest ethical standards, review by academic peers (e.g., Technical Working Groups), and inputs from relevant DOL agency and program officials and CEO technical staff. Final reports undergo an additional independent expert technical review and a review for Section 508 compliance prior to publication. The resulting reports represent findings from this independent research and do not represent DOL positions or policies.