Indiana Administrative Code Title 646 - DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Indiana Administrative Code – Title 646
Department of Workforce Development (DWD)
Title 646 establishes the rules, programs, and administrative structure of Indiana’s Department of Workforce Development (DWD). This department is responsible for workforce programs, unemployment insurance, job training, career development, and labor market services throughout the state.
It provides a legal and regulatory framework for how Indiana manages employment services, workforce development initiatives, unemployment compensation, and training programs.
1. Purpose of the DWD
To connect job seekers with employment opportunities.
To administer unemployment insurance benefits.
To oversee workforce training and education programs.
To collect and publish labor market information.
To regulate employers’ responsibilities related to employment and unemployment insurance.
2. Administrative Structure
The Department is headed by a Commissioner of Workforce Development.
Divisions within the Department handle:
Unemployment Insurance (benefits, employer taxes, appeals).
Employment Services (job matching, career counseling).
Training and Education (adult education, workforce grants).
Labor Market Information (statistical data, research).
3. Unemployment Insurance System
One of the largest areas in Title 646 is unemployment regulation. It sets out:
Eligibility requirements for claimants (employment history, availability for work, active job search).
Filing procedures (initial claims, weekly certifications).
Benefit calculation (based on wages earned during a base period).
Disqualification rules (misconduct, voluntary quit without cause, refusal of suitable work).
Employer contributions (tax rates, reporting obligations).
Appeals process for both claimants and employers if benefits are disputed.
4. Workforce Programs
Title 646 authorizes and regulates several workforce programs, such as:
Job Training Initiatives – programs for skill development and vocational training.
Adult Education & Literacy – services for workers needing basic skills.
Apprenticeship Programs – structured training in partnership with employers.
Youth Employment and Training – opportunities for young workers to enter the labor force.
Dislocated Worker Programs – retraining for employees affected by layoffs or plant closures.
5. Employer Responsibilities
Employers under Title 646 must:
Register with the DWD.
Report employee wages and pay unemployment insurance contributions.
Provide separation information if an employee files for unemployment.
Cooperate in audits, inspections, and investigations.
6. Workforce Development Services
The Department operates programs to help Hoosiers:
Job Matching – connecting individuals with employers.
Career Counseling – helping job seekers identify skills and career paths.
Training Grants – supporting workforce upskilling in industries.
Reemployment Services – aiding individuals receiving unemployment to return to work quickly.
7. Labor Market Information
Title 646 requires the Department to collect, analyze, and publish:
Employment statistics.
Industry trends.
Wage and salary data.
Economic forecasts.
This data is used by employers, job seekers, policymakers, and training providers.
8. Hearings and Appeals
When disputes arise (unemployment benefits, employer tax liability, etc.), Title 646 provides a structured administrative appeals process:
Determination made by the Department.
Appeal to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).
Review by the Unemployment Insurance Review Board.
Judicial review, if necessary, through the courts.
9. Enforcement & Penalties
Employers or individuals who violate Title 646 rules may face:
Fines and penalties.
Repayment of improper benefits.
Increased tax rates for employers.
Disqualification from programs.
Fraud (e.g., knowingly misreporting wages or unemployment claims) is a serious violation with strict penalties.
10. Public Benefit and Policy Focus
Overall, Title 646 emphasizes:
Balancing worker protections with employer responsibilities.
Helping unemployed workers transition quickly back into the workforce.
Promoting training and education that align with Indiana’s labor market needs.
Encouraging economic growth by strengthening workforce readiness.
In Summary
Indiana Administrative Code – Title 646 governs the Department of Workforce Development, which manages Indiana’s unemployment insurance system, job training, career services, employer reporting, and labor market information.
The Department’s work ensures that:
Workers have access to benefits and reemployment opportunities.
Employers fulfill obligations to the unemployment system.
Indiana’s workforce is prepared for current and future economic demands.
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