US Departments of Labor, Commerce announce coordinated effort to create good jobs, promote equity throughout the workforce

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Departments of Labor and Commerce today released the “Good Jobs Principles,” a coordinated effort to provide employers, workers, federal agencies, state and local governments, and other advocates with a roadmap to advance the goal of quality jobs for all workers.

Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh announced the principles today in Washington at the “Good Jobs Summit,” an all-day event with leaders of federal, state and local government, labor unions and workforce organizations to discuss how the federal government is empowering working people through policies that create and support good-quality jobs.

The principles outline the essential elements of a good job, including recruitment and hiring, pay and benefits, job security and career advancement, collective bargaining rights, and working conditions. The principles also prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility to expand access to stable and secure jobs, especially for those from underserved communities.

The principles also provide a framework for creating good jobs and a more accessible workforce through federal government partnerships and investments. Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, federal agencies have incentivized equity and good jobs in more than $50 billion of competitive grant funding to date.

“To stay competitive America needs a workforce that is strong, skilled, empowered and inclusive,” said Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “As our economy rebuilds, workers are empowered to seek better opportunities, and employers are seeking skilled talent and the right tools to attract and retain that talent. Working with our partners in the Department of Commerce, we can develop the essential elements of a good job that will help us create a more equitable and fairer workforce, and grow our economy.”

The Biden-Harris administration has made good jobs and equity for all Americans a cornerstone of the economic recovery. As part of that effort, the department launched the “Good Jobs” initiative in January 2022 to organize and direct federal government tools and resources toward the goal of promoting good jobs for all workers. The principles advance that mission by establishing the groundwork for more concrete strategies to achieve high quality jobs for all workers in our economy, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, women, immigrants, veterans, people with disabilities, and workers in rural communities.

“Creating jobs has been a top priority of the Biden-Harris administration since day one. Not only have we created a historic 8 million jobs but just as importantly, we have worked tirelessly to ensure Americans are returning to high-quality jobs that provide security and stability for American families while encouraging employers to recruit, train, and retain workers who can help their businesses flourish,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “To help achieve these goals, the departments of Commerce and Labor have formed an unprecedented partnership to ensure workers and businesses both benefit from high-quality, good paying jobs and today’s Good Jobs Principles will continue to help guide these efforts.”

Watch a livestream of today’s Good Jobs summit.

Learn more about the Good Jobs Initiative led by the Department of Labor.