Labor, Department of

Mission

The Department of Labor (DOL) connects New Yorkers to employment, training, and upskilling opportunities. It builds and supports New York's businesses, helping them find qualified workers and keeping them informed about tools and incentives to make their businesses thrive. DOL empowers and protects New York’s workers by supporting the unemployed and by ensuring all workers have a safe workplace where they receive a fair wage.

Organization and Staffing

DOL’s central office, located in Albany, is responsible for the Unemployment Insurance Telephone Claims Centers and One-Stop Career Centers located throughout the State. In addition, DOL enforces child labor laws, fosters workplace health and safety, and ensures that employees are paid in accordance with provisions of the Labor Law through statewide district offices staffed based upon geographic workload.

Major Programs

Employment and Workforce Solutions

As the designated administrative entity overseeing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I programs, DOL offers a comprehensive set of employment and reemployment services to employers and job seekers. DOL oversees a network of locally operated Career Centers, which provide a single point through which job seekers and businesses can access such services. These services include employment, reemployment, training and retraining services for workers, employers, job seekers, dislocated workers, youth, and veterans. DOL also provides implementation and oversight of the National Apprenticeship Act, facilitating the development and registration of apprenticeship training programs.

Unemployment Insurance

Weekly income is provided to eligible workers who lose their job through no fault of their own to offset the loss of income while they seek employment. Quarterly payroll contributions are made by employers at a rate partially dependent on how frequently an employer's workers access the insurance benefits.

Worker Protection

The Labor Standards Division enforces the New York State Labor Law concerning the minimum wage, child labor, industrial homework, the apparel industry, domestic workers, and seasonal farm labor. The Occupational Safety and Health Division protects private and public employees and the public from hazards arising from employment that are not covered by Federal standards. Protections include issuing licenses and certifications for certain occupations, enforcing asbestos rules and regulations, inspecting specific industries' equipment, health and safety training for workers in the mining industry, performing mold inspections, and providing guidance to private employers to help them comply with Federal safety and health standards. The Bureau of Public Work enforces the labor laws concerning prevailing wage and supplements related to worker protection statutes, including public construction and building service contracts involving State or local governmental entities and Wicks Law.

Division of Immigrant Policies and Affairs

The Division of Immigrant Policies and Affairs ensures that DOL is accessible to immigrant workers and responsive to their needs. The Division conducts outreach to community groups, legislators, non-governmental organizations, and employers and workers to inform them of available services. It also conducts analyses of DOL policies, procedures and materials to maintain accessibility for immigrants.

Research and Statistics

Economists and analysts provide data on the labor market including economic conditions, labor supply, and wages. Research & Statistics is also the lead division in the New York State Data Center (NYSDC) Affiliate program, providing the most comprehensive economic and demographic data for New York State to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2026 Executive Budget recommends $7.3 billion in appropriations for the Department, consistent with FY 2025 levels.

The FY 2026 Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 2,942 FTEs for DOL, consistent with FY 2025 workforce levels.

Major Executive Budget actions include:

$10 million to Digitize Youth Working Papers: The Executive Budget includes additional funding to support legislation to digitize working papers for minors and create a one-stop online portal for young people, caregivers, employers, and school administrators.
$10 million to Create New Registered Apprenticeships and Pre-Apprenticeships in High-Demand Occupations: The Executive Budget includes funding for providers of registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships in high-demand occupations, to cover partial apprentice wages, training costs, and wraparound services for underrepresented groups.
$8 million to Facilitate New Training Pathways into High-Demand Occupations: The Executive Budget includes funding to launch a new initiative to support employer-led training. Additionally, DOL will collaborate with school districts and businesses to recruit high school students for a summer work experience program in high-demand fields.

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Briefing Book – Human Services

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category	Available FY 2025	Appropriations Recommended FY 2026	Change From FY 2025	Reappropriations Recommended FY 2026
State Operations	996,207,000	1,039,000,000	42,793,000	2,133,879,000
Aid To Localities	6,307,259,000	6,294,081,000	(13,178,000)	6,568,711,000
Total	7,303,466,000	7,333,081,000	29,615,000	8,702,590,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program	FY 2025 Estimated FTEs 03/31/25	FY 2026 Estimated FTEs 03/31/26	FTE Change
Administration
General Fund	1	1	0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	2,446	2,446	0
Internal Service Funds	16	16	0
Employment and Training
Special Revenue Funds - Other	39	39	0
Labor Standards
Special Revenue Funds - Other	137	137	0
Occupational Safety and Health
Special Revenue Funds - Other	303	303	0
Total	2,942	2,942	0

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change
Enterprise Funds	250,000,000	250,000,000	0
General Fund	3,787,000	13,787,000	10,000,000
Internal Service Funds	5,340,000	5,340,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	638,449,000	671,242,000	32,793,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other	98,631,000	98,631,000	0
Total	996,207,000	1,039,000,000	42,793,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change
Administration
General Fund	287,000	287,000	0
Internal Service Funds	5,340,000	5,340,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	549,066,000	585,437,000	36,371,000
Employment and Training
General Fund	3,500,000	13,500,000	10,000,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	89,383,000	85,805,000	(3,578,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other	5,120,000	5,120,000	0
Labor Standards
Special Revenue Funds - Other	43,877,000	43,877,000	0
Occupational Safety and Health
Special Revenue Funds - Other	49,634,000	49,634,000	0
Unemployment Insurance Benefit Fund
Enterprise Funds	250,000,000	250,000,000	0
Total	996,207,000	1,039,000,000	42,793,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried)
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	87,000	0	87,000	0
Employment and Training	4,780,000	1,530,000	4,650,000	1,430,000
Total	4,867,000	1,530,000	4,737,000	1,430,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Temporary Service (Nonannual Salaried)		Holiday/Overtime Pay
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Employment and Training	65,000	50,000	65,000	50,000
Total	65,000	50,000	65,000	50,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Supplies and Materials
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	200,000	0	0	0
Employment and Training	8,720,000	8,470,000	320,000	82,000
Total	8,920,000	8,470,000	320,000	82,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Travel		Contractual Services
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	0	0	200,000	0
Employment and Training	312,000	307,000	7,768,000	7,767,000
Total	312,000	307,000	7,968,000	7,767,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Equipment
Program	Amount	Change
Employment and Training	320,000	314,000
Total	320,000	314,000

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	590,777,000	36,371,000	253,407,000	42,216,000
Employment and Training	90,925,000	(3,578,000)	30,161,000	776,000
Labor Standards	43,877,000	0	22,941,000	142,000
Occupational Safety and Health	49,634,000	0	21,389,000	0
Unemployment Insurance Benefit Fund	250,000,000	0	0	0
Total	1,025,213,000	32,793,000	327,898,000	43,134,000

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Nonpersonal Service
Program	Amount	Change
Administration	337,370,000	(5,845,000)
Employment and Training	60,764,000	(4,354,000)
Labor Standards	20,936,000	(142,000)
Occupational Safety and Health	28,245,000	0
Unemployment Insurance Benefit Fund	250,000,000	0
Total	697,315,000	(10,341,000)

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change
Enterprise Funds	6,002,000,000	6,002,500,000	500,000
General Fund	48,735,000	40,900,000	(7,835,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	256,105,000	250,262,000	(5,843,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other	419,000	419,000	0
Total	6,307,259,000	6,294,081,000	(13,178,000)

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change
Administration
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	15,000,000	15,000,000	0
Employment and Training
General Fund	48,735,000	40,900,000	(7,835,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	214,605,000	208,762,000	(5,843,000)
Occupational Safety and Health
Special Revenue Funds - Other	419,000	419,000	0
Unemployment Insurance Benefit Fund
Enterprise Funds	6,002,000,000	6,002,500,000	500,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	26,500,000	26,500,000	0
Total	6,307,259,000	6,294,081,000	(13,178,000)

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/21/2025

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