Nebraska Commissioner of Labor
| Nebraska Commissioner of Labor | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $147,522 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $53,328,832 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the governor's pleasure |
| Authority: | Nebraska Revised Statutes, § 48-606 - 48-611 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by Governor |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Nebraska Commissioner of Labor
Katie Thurber | |
| Other Nebraska Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Commissioner of Education • Agriculture Director • Insurance Director • Natural Resources Director • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission • Board of Regents | |
The Nebraska Commissioner of Labor is a state executive position in Nebraska overseeing the state's department of labor.
The commissioner is tasked with enforcing the state's Employment Security Law, which includes provisions pertaining to employee wages and benefits. The labor commissioner is also required to submit an annual report to the governor, in which he or she may make recommendations for amendments to the law.[1]
Current officeholder
The acting Nebraska Commissioner of Labor is Katie Thurber (nonpartisan). Thurber assumed office in 2024.
Authority
The office of the labor commissioner is established in chapter 48 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes.
Nebraska Revised Statutes 48-606: [2]
| It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Labor to administer the Employment Security Law. He or she shall have the power and authority to employ such persons, make such expenditures, require such reports, make such investigations, and take such other action as he or she deems necessary or suitable to that end if the same are consistent with the Employment Security Law. The commissioner shall determine his or her own organization and methods of procedure in accordance with such law and shall have an official seal which shall be judicially noticed... |
Qualifications
The commissioner is required to have experience in labor issues:
| The commissioners shall not be appointed because they are representatives of either capital or labor, but they shall be appointed because of their experience and knowledge in legal, financial, labor, and industrial matters.[2] |
Appointments
The commissioner of labor is appointed by the governor.[2]
Vacancies
As established by Article IV, Section 1 of the Nebraska Constitution, in the event of a vacancy, the governor fills the office by appointment.[3]
Duties
The primary duties of the labor commissioner is to enforce the Nebraska Employment Security Law (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§48-601 to 48-683) and other statutes pertaining to employment and labor.
Under § 48-606 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes, the commissioner shall:
- Administer the Employment Security Law, and oversee the Department of Labor
- Make necessary expenditures, oversee the creation of reports or investigations, and take any other action he or she deems necessary to administer the Employment Security Law
- Submit an annual report to the governor detailing the department's administration and operation during the past fiscal year, and make recommendations for amendments to the law as he or she deems proper
- Make copies of the commissioner's annual report available to state legislators[2]
Divisions
As of January 27, 2021, the department of labor contains the following divisions:
- Unemployment Benefits
- Unemployment Tax
- Appeal Tribunal
- Labor Standards
- Statutes and Regulations
- Safety
- Employment and Training
- Labor Market Information[4]
State budget
The total budget for the Nebraska Department of Labor in fiscal year 2024-2025 was $53,328,832.[5]
Compensation
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $147,522, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $143,225, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2021
In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $140,416, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2020
In 2020, the commissioner received a salary of $134,172, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2019
In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $134,172, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2018
In 2018, the commissioner received a salary of $132,188, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2017
In 2017, the commissioner received a salary of $130,880, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2016
In 2016, the labor commissioner's salary was increased to $127,812, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2015
In 2015, the labor commissioner received a salary of $125,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Nebraska Commissioner of Labor has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
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Contact information
Nebraska Department of Labor
Administrative Office
550 South 16th Street
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 471 - 9000
See also
| Nebraska | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "Nebraska Revised Statute 48-611," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Nebraska Legislature, "Nebraska Revised Statute 48-606," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Nebraska State Legislature, "Nebraska State Constitution," accessed January, 27, 2021
- ↑ Nebraska Department of Labor, "Divisions," accessed January 27, 2021
- ↑ Nebraska.gov, "Agency Operations / State Aid / Construction Summary by Fund Type," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
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