Rhode Island Department of Labor & Training

What Rhode Island Department of Labor & Training does

Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) is a state government agency operating under the authority of the State of Rhode Island, headquartered at 1511 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, with additional American Job Center locations in Providence, West Warwick, and Woonsocket. Founded in 1935 and employing 251–500 staff, the agency administers workforce development, workforce security, and workforce protection programs for Rhode Island's workers, employers, and residents. Its mandate covers three principal functions: insurance programs (Unemployment Insurance, Temporary Disability Insurance, Temporary Caregiver Insurance, and oversight of workers' compensation), employment services (American Job Centers, apprenticeship registration, Real Jobs Rhode Island partnerships, foreign labor certification for H-2A/H-2B visas, On-the-Job Training, and Rapid Response for layoffs), and labor regulation (professional and trade licensing, labor standards enforcement including minimum wage and prevailing wage, paid sick and safe leave, and worker misclassification enforcement).

The agency's technology stack is built around publicly accessible self-service portals and federally mandated integration points. Core digital systems include UI Online (beta.uionline.dlt.ri.gov) for unemployment claim filing and weekly certification, the TDI Reserve system for disability and caregiver claims, EmployRI.org for job postings and foreign labor recruitment, and an employer tax portal for quarterly reporting (TX-17). DLT integrates with the U.S. Department of Labor's Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) for H-2A/H-2B processing, the UI SIDES E-Response system for electronic employer claim notifications, and Money Network/EverywherePay Electronic Payment Cards for benefit disbursement. Virtual job fairs are hosted on Microsoft Teams. Multilingual support is provided in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Chinese, Khmer, Laotian, and Haitian Creole through human translation and interpretation services.

DLT does not operate a commercial revenue model; all services are delivered free of charge to Rhode Island workers and employers. Funding is sourced primarily from employer payroll tax contributions (UI tax rates ranging from 0.6% to 10.0% based on experience rating), worker contributions to TDI/TCI (1.1% on the first $100,000 in earnings as of January 1, 2026), state appropriations, and federal grants under programs such as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and the Trade Adjustment Assistance program. The agency operates as the sole statutory provider of these services within Rhode Island, serving as a monopoly administrator rather than a market participant.

Name

Rhode Island Department of Labor & Training

Legal name

State of Rhode Island, Department of Labor and Training

Website

https://dlt.ri.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training is a state government agency that administers unemployment insurance, temporary disability and caregiver insurance, workforce development programs, apprenticeship registration, foreign labor certification, and labor standards enforcement for Rhode Island's workers, employers, and residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Workforce Services

NAICS

Administration of Human Resource Programs (except Education, Public Health, and Veterans' Affairs Programs) (92313), Administration of Human Resource Programs (923), Administration of Human Resource Programs (9231), Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Help Supply Services (7363), Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Labor, Employment Standards & Workforce Development Administration (BPAIABAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Unemployment Insurance & Employment Support Benefits (BPAIAKAB), Disability & Leave Administration (STD/LTD/FMLA/Paid Leave) (HLAEALAM), Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Staffing/PEO & Contingent Workforce (FSAJAEAE), Workforce Benefits Administration (Enrollment & Deductions) (BPACAIAF), Workforce Compliance & Employment Law Risk Management (Local Labor Law, Tax, Statutory) (BPACAHAH)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Unemployment insurance administration
• Labor standards enforcement
• Apprenticeship and job training
• Employer tax services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cranston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Employer Payroll Tax Contributions: Rhode Island employers pay unemployment insurance (Employment Security) taxes and Temporary Disability Insurance contributions based on taxable wages. Tax rates range from 0.6% to 10.0% based on experience rating. The system is funded primarily through employer contributions, not general tax revenue.
2. Worker Contributions (TDI/TCI): Workers contribute 1.1% of their first $100,000 in earnings toward TDI/TCI coverage (as of January 1, 2026). This funding supports the Temporary Disability Insurance and Temporary Caregiver Insurance programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Rhode Island Department of Labor & Training administers unemployment insurance, temporary disability insurance, temporary caregiver insurance, workforce development programs, apprenticeship oversight, employer tax administration, foreign labor certification, rapid response to layoffs, and labor standards enforcement for the state's workers and employers. Services are delivered through online self-service portals and physical American Job Centers across Rhode Island, free of charge to eligible users and funded by employer payroll taxes and worker contributions.

Product overview

The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) operates as a state government agency providing workforce development, workforce security, and workforce protection services. The organization offers a unified portfolio of interconnected programs organized around core insurance products (Unemployment Insurance, Temporary Disability Insurance, and Temporary Caregiver Insurance), employment services (American Job Centers, apprenticeship programs, Real Jobs Rhode Island workforce partnerships), and regulatory oversight (labor standards enforcement, workers' compensation, professional licensing). DLT also administers foreign labor certification for H-2A and H-2B visa programs, provides employer tax services, and supports rapid response for businesses facing layoffs. Key digital platforms include UI Online for claimant self-service and EmployRI.org for job postings. The agency provides multilingual access assistance and maintains physical offices in Cranston with American Job Centers in Providence, West Warwick, and Woonsocket.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Unemployment Insurance (UI) Income support program for Rhode Island workers who are partially or totally unemployed through no fault of their own. Workers file claims, certify weekly payments through UI Online (beta.uionline.dlt.ri.gov), and may receive partial benefits for reduced hours under WorkShare.
• Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) Benefits program for Rhode Island workers who are out of work due to a temporary illness or injury not related to work. Requires medical certification from a Qualified Healthcare Provider and is filed online via the TDI Reserve system.
• Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI) Up to 8 weeks of caregiver benefits for eligible applicants to care for a seriously ill family member or bond with a newborn, newly adopted, or foster child during the first 12 months of parenting.
• Paid Sick and Safe Leave Legal right for most Rhode Island employees to earn sick and safe leave from work under the Healthy and Safe Families and Workplaces Act. Employers with 18+ employees must provide paid leave; smaller employers must provide unpaid leave.
• WorkShare Alternative to layoffs allowing Rhode Island employers to reduce work hours for groups of employees while those employees receive partial unemployment insurance benefits to compensate for lost wages.
• Rapid Response Coordination service that assists Rhode Island employers and workers facing permanent layoffs or closures. Includes early intervention, group employee orientations, worker needs assessments, and access to reemployment programs.
• American Job Centers (AJC) Career services centers providing job search assistance, career counseling, job training, and job fair hosting. Located in Providence, West Warwick, and Woonsocket.
• Apprenticeship Program State apprenticeship program administered by the RI Office of Apprenticeship that registers apprenticeship programs, tracks apprentice progress, and certifies completions.
• Real Jobs Rhode Island (RJRI) Business-led workforce development initiative that partners with employers, training providers, and community organizations to address industry workforce challenges through upskilling, placement, and talent pipeline creation.
• H-2A Agricultural Labor Certification Federal program allowing U.S. employers to hire foreign workers on a temporary basis to perform agricultural work when insufficient U.S. workers are available, processed through the FLAG system.
• H-2B Non-Agricultural Labor Certification Federal program permitting U.S. employers to hire nonimmigrant workers for temporary non-agricultural work including one-time, seasonal peak load, or intermittent positions, processed through the FLAG system.
• On-the-Job Training (OJT) Federally-funded initiative under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act that helps Rhode Island employers hire and train new workers through partial wage reimbursement.
• Employer Tax Services Comprehensive employer tax administration including business registration, quarterly tax reporting (TX-17), experience rating, collections, field audits, and electronic filing through the online portal for Rhode Island employers.
• Workers' Compensation Program ensuring Rhode Island employers maintain workers' compensation coverage and providing guidance for injured workers, employers, independent contractors, insurers, and adjusters.
• Labor Standards Enforcement Enforcement of Rhode Island labor laws including minimum wage, prevailing wage, child labor laws, wage complaints, worker misclassification, and workplace safety compliance.
• Refugee and Asylee Employment Services Resources and guidance for Rhode Island employers hiring immigrants, refugees, and asylees, including documentation requirements and connections to refugee resettlement agencies.
• Professional Regulation and Trade Licensing Administration of professional licenses and trade license applications and study materials for various occupations in Rhode Island.

Quantifiable outcome

• Weekly benefit rates for UI range from $82 minimum to $745 maximum (effective 1/1/26), not including dependency allowance
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Refugee Resettlement AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLT partners with refugee resettlement agencies in Rhode Island to provide employment services and job placement for refugees and asylees. These agencies connect qualified candidates with employers and provide guidance on the hiring process.
• US Department of Labor (DOL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLT works with DOL for foreign labor certification programs (H-2A agricultural and H-2B non-agricultural), including processing through the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) system and the Chicago National Processing Center.
• Real Jobs RI Industry PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal Jobs RI partnerships work with a network of employers, training providers, and community organizations to build workforce solutions addressing industries' unique workforce challenges. Currently has partnerships in 16 different industries.
• Governor's Workforce Board (GWB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGWB oversees workforce development programs including Real Jobs RI and the Talent Access Network. DLT coordinates with GWB for workforce training funding and program administration.
• US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)supportingTechnology or IntegrationDLT references USCIS resources and Form I-9 Handbook for Employers (M-274) to guide employers on verifying employment authorization for refugees and asylees.
• US Department of Justice (DOJ)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOJ provides employer hotline (1-800-255-8155) and employer information resources on immigrant and employee rights to prevent discrimination in hiring refugees and asylees.
• Neighboring State UI Agencies (Connecticut, Massachusetts)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFor workers living in Rhode Island but working in another state, DLT directs them to file unemployment claims in the state where they work, referring to Connecticut and Massachusetts UI systems.
• Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) ProgramsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal program administered in coordination with DLT providing aid to workers who lose jobs or experience reduced hours due to increased imports, as established under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2015.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development: Direct counterpart state labor agency administering UI, workforce development, and labor standards for Massachusetts. Closely comparable in mandate, service mix (UI plus TDI-style programs), and AJCC-style career center network serving a neighboring New England economy.
• Employ Florida (Florida Department of Commerce): Florida's state workforce system operating the equivalent of UI claims, job matching (Employ Florida), apprenticeship, and labor market information. Comparable in digital-first service delivery model for a tourism-heavy, seasonally fluctuating labor market.
• California Labor and Workforce Development Agency: California's umbrella labor agency overseeing UI, EDD, apprenticeship, and labor standards. Comparable in scope (UI plus disability/paid family leave), but at the opposite end of the population scale, providing a reference for how a state labor agency scales program delivery.
• Workforce Solutions (Texas Workforce Commission): Texas's integrated workforce system covering UI, job matching via WorkInTexas.com, apprenticeship, and Skills Development Fund grants. Comparable in operating a single branded portal that bundles employer services, training, and job matching.
• New York State Department of Labor: State labor agency administering UI, workforce development, and labor standards for New York. Comparable in program structure (UI, TAA, apprenticeship, workforce investment boards) though at much greater scale; useful benchmark for large-state operating model and benefit systems.
• Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry: Mid-Atlantic state labor agency administering UC benefits, workforce development, apprenticeship, and workers' compensation. Directly comparable portfolio and serves as a useful operational peer given the similar industrial mix and unionized labor context.
• Connecticut Department of Labor: Neighboring state labor agency that handles UI claims for Rhode Island residents working in CT. Operates an essentially identical portfolio of UI administration, workforce investment programs, apprenticeship registration, and labor standards enforcement for a small-state population.

Emerging players

• Workforce Opportunity Services: Nonprofit workforce development intermediary that operates training and placement programs similar to DLT's Real Jobs RI and OJT. Comparable as a community-based partner model competing for the same employer training dollars and candidates.
• Indeed: Dominant private-sector job-matching platform overlapping with EmployRI.org and AJC labor exchange services. Not a UI administrator but competes for employer job-posting spend and job-seeker attention that DLT channels through its workforce services.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Department of Labor: Federal umbrella agency that funds and oversees state UI, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, apprenticeship, and foreign labor certification programs that DLT administers. Not a competitor but the principal upstream partner, making program design and funding flows comparable.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RI_DLT
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC41Y-_QuiYBbD3BotOjVDug
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rhode-island-department-of-labor-training
• Instagraminstagram.com/ri_dlt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about Rhode Island Department of Labor & Training