Labor & Employment (Workforce Development) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4435: Establishes "Employment First Commission."

This bill establishes the "Employment First Commission" within New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The commission, made up of 17 members including state agency heads and representatives from disability organizations, individuals with disabilities, and advocates, will focus on improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Its key duties include analyzing employment data, identifying service gaps, making recommendations to state agencies, and developing an online resource hub for disability employment information. The commission directly affects individuals with disabilities seeking competitive integrated employment - meaning work in regular workplaces at fair wages - and the state agencies that provide related services.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workforce Development Tags People with Disabilities

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1316: Expands Tuition Aid Grant program to include workforce training programs.

This bill expands New Jersey's Tuition Aid Grant Program to cover eligible workforce training programs, directly affecting students seeking non-degree credentials in high-demand fields. To qualify, programs must require 150+ classroom hours, offer industry-valued credentials, and maintain 70%+ completion and job placement rates. The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority will designate eligible programs and set participation rules, while institutions must report program success metrics. This change allows workforce training participants to access state aid previously limited to degree-granting programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education Student Financial Aid Workforce Development

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1942: Provides credits against corporation business and gross income taxes for certain employers that invest in human capital.

This bill (A 1942) provides tax credits to small New Jersey businesses that invest in employee job training. Qualified employers (businesses with under $2.5 million annual revenue, operating in NJ for fewer than 10 years, and employing NJ workers) can claim a 10% credit on training costs, up to $2,000 per employee annually. The credit applies to both corporation business tax and gross income tax, requires training to lead to industry-recognized credentials, and can be claimed for a maximum of five years. It does not reduce tax liability below the statutory minimum or zero.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Workforce Development

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1065: Establishes workforce development training program for advanced transmission technology.

This bill creates the Advanced Transmission Technologies Workforce Development Program (ATT Program) within New Jersey's Department of Labor to train electrical engineers and utility workers in installing and managing advanced transmission technology systems. The program focuses on creating jobs, embedding training directly into infrastructure projects, using community benefit agreements, updating student career education, and retraining existing workers. It authorizes the department to use state, federal, and non-governmental funding sources for these efforts and requires annual evaluation reports to the Governor and Legislature starting July 1, 2027. The goal is to build a skilled workforce that supports faster deployment of transmission technology and reduces delays caused by technical capacity gaps.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3472: Requires employers to adopt domestic violence policies and protocols established by DOLWD.

New Jersey bill A 3472 requires all employers in the state to adopt written domestic violence policies and safety protocols developed by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD). The DOLWD must create culturally competent policies covering employee training, response procedures for affected workers, bystander intervention education, and victim resources. Employers must implement these policies within one year of the bill's enactment and share them with all employees at least annually. This applies to every business and organization operating in New Jersey, mandating concrete policy changes to address domestic violence in the workplace.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4116: Establishes a manufacturing reinvestment account program to incentivize capital investment and workforce training in New Jersey with income tax rate reductions, deferrals, and accelerated deductions.

This bill creates a tax incentive program for small New Jersey manufacturers (employing ≤50 people) to invest in equipment and workforce training. It allows businesses to deduct up to $100,000 annually from their income tax for contributions to a special "manufacturing reinvestment account" held at a New Jersey financial institution. Funds in the account can be used for qualifying expenses like machinery/equipment purchases or New Jersey-based worker training, with unused funds earning tax-advantaged treatment until distributed. The program applies for five consecutive tax years, after which remaining balances are taxed normally.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Tax Incentives Workforce Development

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2394: Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits to employers that hire certain individuals through One-Stop Career Centers.

This bill provides New Jersey employers with tax credits of up to $3,000 per qualified employee hired through One-Stop Career Centers. To qualify, employees must have been unemployed for at least 60 days, completed required training at a career center, and earned an industry-recognized credential during that unemployment period. Employers must retain employees for a minimum of 90 days to claim the credit, which applies to both corporation business tax and gross income tax liabilities. The credits cannot exceed 50% of a taxpayer’s liability and may be carried forward for up to seven years if unused. This directly affects New Jersey employers hiring eligible job seekers who completed workforce training programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Unemployment Workforce Development

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2655: Supports activities of New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc.

This bill allocates $1.5 million annually from the Workforce Development Partnership Fund to support the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc. (NJMEP) or its successor. NJMEP is a nonprofit organization that helps New Jersey manufacturers improve competitiveness, productivity, and efficiency through customized training and technical assistance. The funding is designated as a permanent, dedicated source within the broader workforce development fund, separate from other allocations for worker training programs. This provision ensures consistent financial backing for NJMEP's services to manufacturers across the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 24, 2026

S 3700: Requires employer of volunteer first responder to provide employee with one additional paid sick day per benefit year for healthcare diagnostic testing.

This bill requires employers with at least 25 employees to provide one additional paid sick day per benefit year to employees who serve as volunteer first responders (such as firefighters, EMTs, or emergency squad members). The extra day must be used specifically for healthcare diagnostic testing recommended by a provider to prevent or diagnose conditions related to the volunteer’s duties. Employers must provide this benefit after the employee completes their first calendar year of service. The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development will establish rules to implement the policy, aiming to support volunteer recruitment and retention by reducing conflicts between paid work and emergency service responsibilities.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Workforce Development Tags Public Safety

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 2, 2026

S 3593: "New Jersey Works Act"; permits businesses to apply for tax credits for establishing approved pre-employment and work readiness training programs in partnership with schools, nonprofit organizations, or educational institutions.

S 3593, the "New Jersey Works Act," allows businesses to earn tax credits for creating paid pre-employment training programs in partnership with schools, nonprofits, or educational institutions. These programs must provide at least 12 weeks of training covering skills like math, communication, resume writing, and job readiness, targeting individuals from low- and moderate-income households. Businesses in non-construction industries can apply for tax credits after their programs are approved by the Department of Labor. The bill specifically excludes construction trade businesses from eligibility for these credits.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Workforce Development

All labor & employment bills