Divisions of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development

The Adult Education (AE) Division, as part of the Workforce Innovations and Opportunity Act, provides services to adults in Tennessee to build the knowledge and skills necessary to earn a high school equivalency diploma, to gain meaningful employment, post-secondary opportunities, and economic self-sustainability. Students may choose classes nearest them or attend online.

The Employment Security Division administers Tennessee’s Unemployment Compensation program and also administers federal unemployment programs as well as programs to aid individuals impacted by natural disasters. The Unemployment Insurance program in this Division provides workers who lose their jobs by no fault of their own with weekly benefits.

The mission of the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) is to ensure the safety and health of Tennessee’s workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continuous improvement in workplace safety and health. Smaller employers may receive free consultations.

The goal of the Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) is to lessen the negative consequences associated with a work-related accident for employees and employers alike. The law provides employees injured on the job access to necessary medical care and partial wage replacement benefits and provides employers a financial safety net by limiting the benefits that they must provide.

The Workforce Insights, Research and Reporting Engine Division (WIRED) brings together labor market statistical data as well as real-time claimant and job seeker data. WIRED utilizes that information to support data-driven decision-making within the Department’s Divisions as well as for employers and employees in the workforce. Visualizations and data sets are deployed on the Department’s website.

The Workforce Services (WFS) Division, along with its workforce partners, offers many programs for Tennesseans facing barriers to employment and services to businesses in their recruiting, hiring, training, or layoffs. American Job Centers offer free assistance to all looking for work, currently employed, or furthering their careers. The Business Services Team links diverse talent to companies.

The Workplace Regulations and Compliance (WRC) Division protects the general public, owners and users, and their employees from hazards inherent in the operation of boilers, elevators, and amusement devices. WRC also enforces labor laws and provides health and safety training. The WRC units are the following: the Amusement Device, Boiler, Elevator, Labor Standards, and Mine Safety units.