WASHINGTON – Throughout May, the nation celebrated the contributions of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Acting Secretary Julie Su observed the month by sharing her perspective and highlighting the Department of Labor's work.
Acting Secretary Su spoke to the media about the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2023 effort to release monthly unemployment rates and other key statistics for Asian subgroups: Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and other Asians. This real-time disaggregated information allows policymakers and community stakeholders to identify who needs assistance during economic hardships and where to focus resources.
In media interviews in May, Acting Secretary Su also addressed the importance of language access. The department recently translated Worker.gov into more languages including Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic, and Korean. Additionally, MigrantWorker.gov is now available in Simplified Chinese, Arabic, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
On May 20th on MSNBC’s Morning Joe program she discussed AANHPI Heritage Month's significance. “This is a month to celebrate the beautiful diversity of all of us who call ourselves Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders," she said. "And for President Biden...the celebration of diversity is something that's very core to who he is.”
On May 24th on ABC News’ Nightline with Juju Chang alongside fellow AANHPI cabinet members U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai and Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Arati Prabhakar they spoke about President Biden’s commitment to diversity within AA NHPI communities nationwide.
When asked by Chang about how her experience as an immigrant's child impacts her work at the Department of Labor Acting Secretary Su stated: “I grew up translating for my parents...that experience had a really profound effect on my sense of belonging...I went to law school to become a translator...for people who were marginalized discriminated against exploited.”
Read additional coverage here:
Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su wants American dream for all
By Matthew Yoshimoto | May 14 2024
“As a child of Chinese immigrants Su shared her excitement working on workers’ rights civil rights particularly disenfranchised communities noted ongoing efforts by Department making information more accessible expanding number AANHPI language translations."
“Growing up translating taught me power language realized law really language decide gets what society gets work doesn’t paid doesn’t migrate march marry vote partake America,” said conversation “Language access important.”
Disaggregated Data is America’s Super Power: It’s Crucial to be Counted
By Sunita Sohrabji | May 23 2024
“Standards federal data collection not changed since 1997 monumental move Office Management Budget March announced new standards implemented Census Bureau federal agencies significantly changes reclassification Middle Easterners North Africans identified racial category MENA community fought several years.”
U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su Reflects on Family’s Immigration Value Unions
By Tracy Huang | May 24 2024
“In interview news company NRG she said ‘I believe transformative power America know transformative power good job workers organizing power respect workplace know see you.’”
