About Us

The Income Support Division provides financial assistance to Rhode Islanders who are temporarily out of work, allowing them to support themselves and their families until they can return to work. The largest benefit programs within the Income Support Division are Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI). The Department’s priorities and strategic direction are to ensure continuous improvements in all Income Support programs.

The Labor Market Information (LMI) Division is a central resource for a wide variety of data relating to the Rhode Island economy. The LMI Division is responsible for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of information on the state’s labor market. LMI in cooperation with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) operates four federal/state survey programs which collect information from RI-based employers and households concerning their employment situations. These federal/ state programs are operated in all states making data comparable across states and over time.

The Workforce Regulation and Safety Division is charged with enforcing the safety laws that protect Rhode Island’s workforce, including a fair collection of wages, child labor laws, trade licensing, apprenticeship training, hazardous substance exposure, weights and measures, and prevailing wage laws. This is accomplished through licensing, inspection programs, educational programs, and labor law enforcement.

All Rhode Island employers are required to maintain workers’ compensation insurance, which provides workers with protection in the event of a work-related injury or illness by covering missed wages and medical expenses. At the Department of Labor and Training, the Workers’ Compensation Division monitors the state’s workers’ compensation system, ensuring that all required employers have insurance coverage, that appropriate documents are filed to protect injured workers and employers, that claims are paid correctly, and that measures are taken to detect and prevent fraud.

The Workforce Development Services (WDS) Division is dedicated to the support and advancement of all who comprise the workforce: those who perform the work and those who hire them. The division oversees a variety of programs that guide job seekers to suitable employment and introduce employers to qualified workers.

The Office of Community Engagement (OCE) leads the Department of Labor and Training’s (RIDLT) commitment and strategy to be a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization, both internally and externally in serving the public. The mission of the OCE is to build meaningful, two-way relationships with community representatives in order to ensure that all DLT services and programs are accessible, inclusive, and equitably distributed; with a focus on eliminating barriers and promoting access for marginalized populations.

The Governor's Workforce Board is the centralized resource for workforce development issues, connecting a wide variety of services and programs for both employers and job seekers.

The Workforce Solutions of Providence-Cranston is charged with partnering with local industries to increase labor and training initiatives within the state, as well as collaborating with business, labor, education leaders and community-based organizations to establish a dynamic, outcome driven, visible resource providing measurable and comprehensive market-driven employment and training services.

The Board of Police Officer Relief Per RI General Law 45-19-2, within the Department of Labor and Training there is a board of police officer's relief consisting of seven members which administers the fund for the relief of police officers.

The Board of Firefighter Relief - Per RI General Law 45-19-5, within the Department of Labor and Training there is a board of fire fighter's relief, consisting of three members, which administer the fund for the relief of fire fighters