The New York State Department of Labor is here to help businesses of all sizes succeed! We offer a host of tools and services to assist with your hiring needs:

• New York State Virtual Career Center (VCC) - Jump into the VCC and post your job openings in a snap! This advanced technology platform matches you with the perfect candidates fast, making hiring a breeze.
• New York State Job Bank - Struggling to find the right talent? Dive into our Job Bank! With over 135,000 listings across a spectrum of industries, it’s your go-to for snagging top-notch pros.
• Host Your Own Career Fair - Nothing beats face-to-face connections. Host a Career Fair or a Custom Recruitment event to meet skilled hopefuls and fill your ranks with the best.

Contact your local Business Services Representative to start building your workforce!

The following training courses are now available:

• Cannabis Product Safety & Responsibility – Developed by OCM, this course focuses on protecting health and safety in the regulated cannabis industry. It includes essential information on cannabis product safety, consumer protection, and state regulations that impact daily cannabis operations.  
• Cannabis Workforce Responsibility – Developed by NYSDOL, this course highlights labor standards, worker rights, and workplace health and safety. 

New York is the first state to require and develop this type of training for the cannabis workforce! This free program eliminates financial barriers to education and ensures both workers and consumers are protected. Access the training courses here.

The NYSDOL offers a variety of free services to support small businesses and entrepreneurs, including: 

• Business Jumpstart - Get specialized assistance with recruiting and training employees, learn about hiring incentives, and receive technical assistance for your individual business needs.
• Self-Employment Assistance Program (SEAP) - SEAP allows qualified New Yorkers who are out of work to start their own business while collecting unemployment insurance (UI) benefits.
• Virtual Career Center – The VCC is New York State’s premier online job search site. We use artificial intelligence to match businesses with qualified candidates.  

For more information about the various ways the NYSDOL can help your small business, visit our Business Services page or contact the NYSDOL small business liaison.

New York State and the Department of Labor are committed to ensuring that all New Yorkers feel safe on the job. The Retail Worker Safety Act (RWSA) is New York State's latest effort to address rising incidents of workplace violence by increasing protections for retail employees. The RWSA is a significant step toward addressing safety concerns in New York State.

This law mandates that retail employers with 10 or more employees implement a workplace violence prevention policy as well as annual training on de-escalation techniques, emergency procedures, and active shooter response. With these measures in place, workers will have the tools to effectively handle potential threats.

For large retailers—those with 500 or more employees—the RWSA requires them to install silent response buttons by January 1, 2027. These devices will connect to on-site security personnel or managers.
The Retail Worker Safety Act will go into effect June 2, 2025.