GAO flags child labor data gaps

The Government Accountability Office said Tuesday an estimated 2.8 million children worked in the United States in 2023, according to its analysis.

DOL’s fatality dataset omits cause‑of‑death and industry details for child workers, limiting public insight.

Changes to DOL’s injury and illness reporting in 2021 mean newer data cannot be compared with earlier years.

Between 2015 and 2023, one DOL survey and two other federal datasets that tracked child labor injuries were discontinued, widening information gaps.

A new enforcement initiative faces obstacles because regional data lack sufficient detail to generate actionable investigation leads.

Persistent knowledge gaps remain among employers and the public.

Interagency collaboration fell short of best practices in 2023 and 2024, and DOL dissolved its child labor task force in 2025.

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