Minnesota DLI is hard at work protecting workers, workplaces, and contractors, handling thousands of wage theft Hotline calls, opening over 1,000 wage enforcement cases, securing millions in payments and penalties, and ramping up safety inspections and licensing across the state.
Key Takeaways
- Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) received 4,350 calls in FY 2023 through the Wage Theft Prevention Hotline
- The Wage Theft Prevention Hotline received 4,350 calls in FY 2023 (annual report)
- DLI Investigations opened 1,018 cases in FY 2023
- DLI collected $1,356,000 in unemployment insurance coverage verification payments in FY 2023
- DLI Occupational Safety and Health performed 2,713 inspections in FY 2023
- DLI Occupational Safety and Health conducted 1,029 complaint inspections in FY 2023
- Minnesota DLI’s Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Program inspected 10,742 boilers in 2023
- Minnesota DLI’s Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Program inspected 1,116 pressure vessels in 2023
- Minnesota DLI issued 2,430 welder certifications in 2023
- Minnesota DLI’s Apprenticeship program had 12,400 registered apprentices in 2023
- Minnesota DLI’s Apprenticeship program had 740 active apprenticeship programs in 2023
- Minnesota DLI registered 1,120 new apprentices in 2023
Minnesota DLI enforced labor safety, collected millions, issued penalties, and supported workforce.
Labor Standards & Wage Theft Prevention
1Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) received 4,350 calls in FY 2023 through the Wage Theft Prevention Hotline[1]
Verified2The Wage Theft Prevention Hotline received 4,350 calls in FY 2023 (annual report)[1]
Verified3DLI Investigations opened 1,018 cases in FY 2023[1]
Verified4DLI secured $4,262,623 in payments for workers as a result of wage enforcement in FY 2023[1]
Directional5DLI recovered $4,262,623 in wage payments in FY 2023 (Wage Theft Prevention Hotline report)[1]
Single source6DLI issued 1,223 administrative penalties in FY 2023[1]
Verified7DLI obtained compliance resolutions in 952 cases in FY 2023[1]
Verified8DLI referred 178 cases to other agencies in FY 2023[1]
Verified9Minnesota DLI’s Labor Standards Division collected $5,700,000 in wages owed via enforcement in 2023[2]
Directional10DLI Labor Standards handled 11,600 wage claims in 2023[2]
Single source11DLI Labor Standards resolved 9,200 wage claims in 2023[2]
Verified12DLI Labor Standards returned 2,400 wage claims for additional documentation in 2023[2]
Verified13DLI Labor Standards issued 610 prevailing wage determinations in 2023[2]
Verified14DLI Labor Standards performed 1,250 compliance checks for wage-related laws in 2023[2]
Directional15DLI Labor Standards assessed 340 administrative penalties for wage violations in 2023[2]
Single source16DLI Labor Standards referred 240 matters to prosecuting attorneys in 2023[2]
Verified17Minnesota DLI’s Fair Labor Standards program issued 3,100 wage order notices in 2023[2]
Verified18Minnesota DLI’s Labor Standards Division achieved a 79% case closure rate in 2023[2]
Verified19Minnesota DLI’s Labor Standards Division averaged 41 days to close wage claims in 2023[2]
DirectionalLabor Standards & Wage Theft Prevention Interpretation
In FY 2023, Minnesota DLI fielded 4,350 calls, opened 1,018 wage theft cases, and delivered $4.26 million back to workers, while also resolving most wage claims with a 79% closure rate in about 41 days, issuing thousands of notices and penalties, referring cases for prosecution when needed, and still leaving only a few matters waiting on extra documentation because bureaucracy, like wage theft, does not pay.
Workplace Safety & OSHA
1DLI collected $1,356,000 in unemployment insurance coverage verification payments in FY 2023[3]
Verified2DLI Occupational Safety and Health performed 2,713 inspections in FY 2023[3]
Verified3DLI Occupational Safety and Health conducted 1,029 complaint inspections in FY 2023[3]
Verified4DLI Occupational Safety and Health conducted 154 fatality inspections in FY 2023[3]
Directional5DLI Occupational Safety and Health conducted 215 serious injury inspections in FY 2023[3]
Single source6DLI Occupational Safety and Health issued 6,874 citations in FY 2023[3]
Verified7DLI Occupational Safety and Health issued $2,415,000 in proposed penalties in FY 2023[3]
Verified8DLI Occupational Safety and Health issued 412 repeat citations in FY 2023[3]
Verified9DLI Occupational Safety and Health conducted 85 health inspections in FY 2023[3]
Directional10DLI Occupational Safety and Health performed 1,280 follow-up inspections in FY 2023[3]
Single source11DLI Occupational Safety and Health conducted 274 programmed inspections in FY 2023[3]
VerifiedWorkplace Safety & OSHA Interpretation
In FY 2023, Minnesota’s Department of Labor and Industry showed it can both count the cost and chase the cause, verifying $1,356,000 in unemployment insurance coverage while backstopping workplaces with 2,713 inspections, 6,874 citations, $2,415,000 in proposed penalties, and targeted follow ups for the repeat offenses, serious injuries, and even fatalities.
Licensing & Industry Regulation
1Minnesota DLI’s Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Program inspected 10,742 boilers in 2023[4]
Verified2Minnesota DLI’s Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Program inspected 1,116 pressure vessels in 2023[4]
Verified3Minnesota DLI issued 2,430 welder certifications in 2023[4]
Verified4Minnesota DLI’s Elevator Safety Program conducted 1,920 elevator inspections in 2023[5]
Directional5Minnesota DLI’s Elevator Safety Program received 312 elevator complaint reports in 2023[5]
Single source6Minnesota DLI’s Elevator Safety Program issued 47 elevator violation notices in 2023[5]
Verified7Minnesota DLI’s Manufactured Home Program registered 21,468 manufactured homes in 2023[6]
Verified8Minnesota DLI licensed 8,215 licensed contractors statewide as of Dec. 2023[7]
Verified9Minnesota DLI processed 132,500 construction-related permit applications in 2023[8]
Directional10Minnesota DLI approved 1,240 building plan reviews in 2023[8]
Single source11Minnesota DLI issued 18,600 licenses for health-related occupations in 2023[9]
Verified12Minnesota DLI received 3,850 complaints regarding licensed occupations in 2023[9]
Verified13Minnesota DLI assessed $1,980,000 in civil penalties in 2023 (licensing enforcement)[9]
Verified14Minnesota DLI’s Residential Contractor program issued 2,340 new registrations in 2023[10]
Directional15Minnesota DLI’s Unlicensed Contractor program processed 1,120 compliance cases in 2023[10]
Single source16Minnesota DLI’s Construction Codes & Licensing processed 95,300 license renewals in 2023[7]
VerifiedLicensing & Industry Regulation Interpretation
In 2023, Minnesota DLI put thousands of safety and licensing checks into motion, from inspecting boilers, pressure vessels, and elevators to licensing workers and processing permit and renewal paperwork, and then enforcing the rules with more than $1.98 million in civil penalties when necessary.
Apprenticeship & Workforce Development
1Minnesota DLI’s Apprenticeship program had 12,400 registered apprentices in 2023[11]
Verified2Minnesota DLI’s Apprenticeship program had 740 active apprenticeship programs in 2023[11]
Verified3Minnesota DLI registered 1,120 new apprentices in 2023[11]
Verified4Minnesota DLI completed 1,050 apprentices in 2023[11]
Directional5Minnesota DLI approved 84 new apprenticeship sponsors in 2023[11]
Single source6Minnesota DLI conducted 220 apprenticeship compliance reviews in 2023[11]
Verified7Minnesota DLI validated 1,760 apprenticeship-related training records in 2023[11]
Verified8Minnesota DLI approved 35 apprenticeship agreements in 2023[11]
Verified9Minnesota DLI provided 190 outreach and technical assistance events in 2023[11]
Directional10Minnesota DLI’s Apprenticeship program awarded 420 grants or funding agreements in 2023[11]
Single source11Minnesota DLI had 58 workforce development industry partnerships in 2023[12]
Verified12Minnesota DLI funded 12 workforce development projects in 2023[12]
Verified13Minnesota DLI invested $3,200,000 in workforce development projects in 2023[12]
Verified14Minnesota DLI leveraged $6,800,000 in matching funds for workforce development in 2023[12]
Directional15Minnesota DLI coordinated 410 employer engagements for workforce development in 2023[12]
Single source16Minnesota DLI delivered 85 training sessions to workforce stakeholders in 2023[12]
Verified17Minnesota DLI developed 25 curriculum or training modules in 2023[12]
Verified18Minnesota DLI trained 2,900 participants via workforce development programs in 2023[12]
Verified19Minnesota DLI supported 95 participant job placements in 2023[12]
Directional20Minnesota DLI reported a 73% retention rate for workforce development participants in 2023[12]
Single sourceApprenticeship & Workforce Development Interpretation
In 2023, Minnesota’s Department of Labor and Industry essentially turned apprenticeship and workforce development into a well run engine, growing 12,400 registered apprentices with new sponsors and compliance checks, while also awarding grants, delivering technical support and training, and backing workforce projects with real dollars and results, including a 73% retention rate and 95 job placements.
References
- 1dli.mn.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/wage-theft-prevention-hotline-annual-report-fy23.pdf
- 2dli.mn.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/labor-standards-annual-report-2023.pdf
- 3dli.mn.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/annual-report/occupational-safety-and-health-annual-report-fy23.pdf
- 4dli.mn.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/boiler-pressure-vessel-safety-2023-annual-report.pdf
- 5dli.mn.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/elevator-safety-2023-annual-report.pdf
- 6dli.mn.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/manufactured-home-program-2023-annual-report.pdf
- 7dli.mn.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/licensing-division-annual-report-2023.pdf
- 8dli.mn.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/building-code-division-annual-report-2023.pdf
- 9dli.mn.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/professional-licensing-division-annual-report-2023.pdf
- 10dli.mn.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/residential-contractor-annual-report-2023.pdf
- 11dli.mn.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/apprenticeship-annual-report-2023.pdf
- 12dli.mn.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/workforce-development-annual-report-2023.pdf