As this press release announces, Secretary Elaine Chao’s staff has apparently been working hard to submit the Department of Labor’s first update to its Strategic Plan in three years to Congress. Putting aside questions about the utility of strategic plans for a moment, it’s refreshing to see DoL note the significant changes in the American workforce over the last several years. Rampant outsourcing, the rise in knowledge workers, the increasing layoffs in industrial segments … all of these factors mean there’s going to be an increased need for worker retraining and assistance. While this Administration isn’t exactly known for its “worker-friendly” policies, it would take a very narrow viewpoint to fail to see the connection between a productive and content workforce and a more robust economy.

The plan itself can be viewed here on the DoL website.