Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry

What Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry does

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry is a cabinet-level state government agency within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, headquartered in Harrisburg and operating with 5,001–10,000 employees. Founded in 1913, the agency administers Pennsylvania's workforce development, unemployment compensation, workers' compensation insurance (including the State Workers' Insurance Fund), vocational rehabilitation for individuals with disabilities, and labor law compliance programs. It serves a broad constituency of workers, unemployment claimants, job seekers, employers, educational institutions, and early childhood education providers, while overseeing 23 Local Workforce Development Boards that coordinate service delivery at the regional level.

The department's technology backbone centers on the PA CareerLink® workforce services platform, complemented by a network of fixed career centers and an expanding fleet of mobile units; supporting systems include WCAIS (Workers' Compensation Automation and Integration System) for claims management, the UC Benefit Secure Chat system for unemployment claimant communications, and the Tier II (PATTS) hazardous chemical reporting system under federal EPCRA. Its Apprenticeship and Training Office administers registered apprenticeship pathways, while the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation provides individualized employment services for individuals with disabilities. Mobile PA CareerLink® units extend in-person service delivery into underserved counties, currently covering three hubs spanning six counties.

L&I is funded almost entirely through state legislative appropriations and federal grant programs (notably WIOA and the Disability Innovation Fund under CFDA 84.421E), with no fee-based revenue from core public services such as unemployment compensation, PA CareerLink® access, vocational rehabilitation, or labor law compliance. The 2025–26 state budget allocates $183 million for career and technical education and registered apprenticeships — a more than 50 percent increase since Governor Shapiro took office — alongside $25 million for the Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program. Notable program output includes 206 newly created registered apprenticeship programs, 17,380+ new apprentices enrolled, 52 Schools-to-Work programs serving 2,295 students, and an active regulatory portfolio that includes defending the prevailing-wage classification of fiber-optic technicians against federal pressure tied to $711 million in NTIA broadband funds.

Name

Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry

Legal name

Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry

Website

https://dli.pa.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry is a cabinet-level state agency administering workforce development, unemployment compensation, workers' compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and labor law compliance across Pennsylvania through its PA CareerLink® platform, physical and mobile career centers, and 23 Local Workforce Development Boards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Human Resource Programs (9231), Administration of Human Resource Programs (923), Employment Services (5613), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Labor & Employment Administration (Workforce Regulation & Programs) (BPAIAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

State/Provincial Labor, Employment Standards & Workforce Development Administration (BPAIABAN), Workforce Development, Employment Readiness & Job Placement (BPADAKAE), Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services (EDAAAOAL), Workforce Support Services & Case Management (Coaching, Wraparound) (EDAAAOAK)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Unemployment compensation administration
• Workers compensation insurance
• Labor law compliance
• Vocational rehabilitation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Harrisburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. State Budget Appropriations: The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry is funded primarily through annual state budget appropriations. The 2025-26 budget allocates $183 million for career and technical education and registered apprenticeships, representing a more than 50% increase since Governor Shapiro took office. The proposed 2026-27 budget seeks to double Schools-to-Work funding to $7 million.
2. Federal Grant Programs: The department receives and administers federal grant funding, including WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) funds, the Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) under CFDA 84.421E, and federal broadband-related funding. Federal grants are awarded across multiple states in FY 2023 and support employment and transition services for youth and individuals with disabilities.
3. Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program: Pennsylvania's 2025-2026 state budget allocated $25 million to the Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention program, administered by the Department of Labor and Industry, to address the early childhood education workforce crisis.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry is a state government agency that administers Pennsylvania's workforce development, unemployment compensation, workers' compensation insurance, vocational rehabilitation, labor law compliance, and apprenticeship programs. Core services include unemployment benefits administration via the PA CareerLink® platform, workers' compensation claims management through WCAIS, vocational rehabilitation for individuals with disabilities, employer workforce tax and compliance services, and grant-funded pre-apprenticeship and Schools-to-Work career pathway programs.

Product overview

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry operates as a state government agency offering a portfolio of workforce development and employment-related services rather than a unified software product. The department's core service offerings include Unemployment Compensation benefits administration, the PA CareerLink® workforce services platform for job seekers and employers, Workers' Compensation automation through WCAIS, and Vocational Rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities. Additional services include the Schools-to-Work grant program supporting pre-apprenticeship pathways for high school students, the Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program, Tier II chemical safety reporting (PATTS), and secure UC benefit communications. These programs collectively support Pennsylvania's workforce development, employment services, workplace safety, and labor law compliance needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PA CareerLink: Workforce and career services platform providing job search resources, career training, and employment assistance across Pennsylvania.
• Schools-to-Work
• PennSERVE & AmeriCorps

Products and services

• PA CareerLink® The department's primary workforce services platform providing job search resources, career training information, and job matching services for job seekers and employers across Pennsylvania.
• Unemployment Compensation Benefit program providing temporary financial assistance to workers who have lost their jobs, including benefit application, eligibility determination, and claim management services.
• WCAIS (Workers' Compensation Automation and Integration System) Online system for managing workers' compensation claims, enabling employers, insurers, and claims administrators to file and track workers' compensation matters.
• Vocational Rehabilitation Employment services for individuals with disabilities, helping them prepare for, obtain, and retain employment through individualized services and accommodations.
• Schools-to-Work State-funded grant program supporting career pathway initiatives for high school students, providing pre-apprenticeship training, construction pre-apprenticeships, and healthcare and IT training across Pennsylvania school districts.
• Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program State-funded initiative allocating $25 million to support early childhood education workforce recruitment and retention, including professional development and career pathway resources.
• Tier II (PATTS) System Hazardous chemical reporting system for Pennsylvania facilities to comply with federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) reporting requirements.
• UC Benefit Secure Chat Secure messaging system for unemployment compensation claimants to communicate with the department regarding their benefit claims.

Quantifiable outcome

• 206 new registered apprenticeship programs created and 17,380+ new apprentices enrolled since Governor Shapiro took office
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science & TechnologyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2026CPI received $250,000 as part of the $4.1 million statewide Schools-to-Work initiative to establish apprenticeships in automation and instrumentation linked to mechatronics for students in Centre, Clinton, and Mifflin Counties. Also partnered with L&I on a separate $400,000 advanced manufacturing pre-apprenticeship program serving 16 students in two cohorts.
• Advance Central PAflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2026Awarded $400,000 by L&I in partnership with CPI to establish an advanced manufacturing pre-apprenticeship program for Centre County students. The program trains 16 students over two cohorts in robotics, automation, programmable logic controllers, and automated systems, enabling CPI to acquire new training equipment. Manufacturing is projected to grow 7% in Centre County over five years.
• Pennsylvania College of TechnologyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2025L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker visited Pennsylvania College of Technology to highlight a $12.5 million investment in apprenticeship programs under Governor Shapiro's 2025-26 budget. A new bus maintenance technician apprenticeship backed by $600,000 in Shapiro Administration funding with 14 apprentices currently enrolled is showcased at the college.
• Community Connections for ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025York County-based local organization implementing apprenticeship and mentorship programs for early childhood education career pathways. Partnered with L&I in addressing the ECE workforce crisis through time-limited philanthropy and workforce development initiatives funded by the $25 million Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention program.
• ECHO (York County)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025York County community organization collaborating with L&I and other local partners to implement apprenticeship and mentorship programs targeting the early childhood education workforce crisis, creating career pathways for ECE educators amid low wages and limited benefits.
• York County Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025York County Community Foundation is implementing apprenticeship and mentorship programs for early childhood education career pathways in partnership with L&I, contributing philanthropic resources to complement the department's $25 million workforce investment in addressing the ECE staffing crisis.
• National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)minorOthersFederal agency that has told Pennsylvania it must reclassify fiber-optic technicians from electrical workers to access $711 million in federal broadband funds. NTIA maintains the current labor classification is driving up project costs by approximately $20 per hour compared to a proposed lower-wage classification.
• VerizonminorOthersTelecommunications company that has been fighting in court alongside the Broadband Communications Association of Pennsylvania to create a separate, lower-wage classification for fiber workers, arguing the $20-per-hour wage difference driven by L&I's current classification inflates broadband project costs and affects access to $711 million in federal broadband funds.
• Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDBs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerL&I oversees 23 Local Workforce Development Boards across Pennsylvania that coordinate workforce development activities at the local level. LWDBs are instrumental in delivering WIOA programs, Disability Innovation Fund activities, and connecting job seekers with PA CareerLink® services.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Texas Workforce Commission: Texas's state agency responsible for workforce development, unemployment benefits, and labor law enforcement, operating Workforce Solutions offices across the state — closely comparable to Pennsylvania L&I's PA CareerLink® network and unemployment compensation administration.
• California Department of Industrial Relations: California's state-level labor and workforce agency administers workers' compensation, labor law compliance, apprenticeship standards, and workforce development — directly parallel in mission and scope to Pennsylvania L&I, though operating in a much larger labor market.
• Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation: Ohio's exclusive state-run workers' compensation insurer and administrator — directly comparable to Pennsylvania's State Workers' Insurance Fund (SWIF) within L&I, with similar monopoly state-fund structure and claims-management mandate.
• New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development: Neighboring state labor agency administering unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and workforce development — directly comparable to Pennsylvania L&I in scope and regulatory structure.
• Florida Department of Commerce (formerly DEO): Florida's state workforce agency administers reemployment assistance, workforce development, and labor market information — a comparable state-level labor agency with similar program architecture, though operating in a different policy environment.
• New York State Department of Labor: New York's state labor agency oversees unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, labor standards, and workforce development through a statewide Career Center network — a near-direct functional peer to Pennsylvania L&I in both regulatory authority and service delivery model.

Others

• Pennsylvania Department of Human Services: Pennsylvania's sister state agency administering human services programs that intersect with L&I's vocational rehabilitation and workforce development populations — directly comparable as a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania cabinet agency with overlapping client base in disability and low-income workforce populations.
• National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA): The membership association representing state labor and workforce agencies — relevant peer because Pennsylvania L&I is a member, and NASWA coordinates policy, training, and federal grants across state agencies with functions analogous to L&I's.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Department of Labor: Federal counterpart that funds many of L&I's programs (WIOA, Disability Innovation Fund, apprenticeship grants) and sets national labor policy; comparable in function at the federal level and acts as the primary upstream funding and policy source for state labor agencies like Pennsylvania L&I.

Regional players

• Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity: Illinois's state workforce development agency operating Workforce Centers and administering apprenticeship and training programs — comparable in mission and program mix, though operating in a different geographic region with different economic structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GovernorShapiro
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GovernorShapiro
• Facebookfacebook.com/GovernorShapiro
• Instagraminstagram.com/GovernorShapiro
• TikToktiktok.com/@governorshapiro

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry