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Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor and Industry

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Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor and Industry

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General information
Office Type:  Nonpartisan
Office website:  Official Link
Compensation:  $183,712
2025 FY Budget:  $94,993,000
Term limits:  None
Structure
Authority:  Pennsylvania Constitution, Article IV, Section 1
Selection Method:  Appointed by Governor
Current Officeholder(s)

Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor and Industry Nancy A. Walker
Nonpartisan
Assumed office: June 21, 2023

Other Pennsylvania Executive Offices
GovernorLieutenant GovernorSecretary of StateAttorney GeneralTreasurerAuditorSuperintendent of EducationAgriculture CommissionerInsurance CommissionerNatural Resources CommissionerLabor CommissionerPublic Service Commission

The Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor and Industry is an appointed state executive position in the Pennsylvania state government. The incumbent oversees unemployment and workers' compensation benefits administration, vocational rehabilitation programs for individual with disabilities, and economic development across the commonwealth.[1]

Current officeholder

The current Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor and Industry is Nancy A. Walker (nonpartisan). Walker assumed office in 2023.

Authority

Though the state Constitution does not specifically create the Office of Secretary of Labor and Industry, it does allow for the addition of public officers in Article IV, Section 1:[2]

All officers, whose selection is not provided for in this Constitution, shall be elected or appointed as may be directed by law.

Qualifications

There are no specific qualifications for the Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor & Industry.[2]

Appointments

The secretary of labor and industry is not elected in Pennsylvania. The governor nominates a candidate to the state Senate, which confirms the nominee by a two-thirds majority before the candidate takes the oath of office.[2]

Vacancies

Article IV, Section 8 of the Pennsylvania Constitution grants the governor the power to appoint officers to fill vacancies. In the event of a vacancy in the office, the governor nominates a successor. This nomination must be made to the commonwealth senate within 90 days of the vacancy. The senate must then take action (confirming or not confirming the nomination) within 25 legislative days.[2]

Duties

The Department of Labor & Industry administers a number of programs for workers in Pennsylvania, including unemployment benefits, workers' compensation benefits, and vocational rehabilitation for individual with disabilities. The department also promotes economic development across the commonwealth, and advocates to help the commonwealth's workforce "remain world-class and globally competitive."[1]

Divisions

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor and Industry has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

State budget

See also: Pennsylvania state budget and finances

The budget for the Department of Labor and Industry in Fiscal Year 2025 was $94,993,000.[3]

Compensation

See also: Compensation of state executive officers

The treasurer's salary is set by statute and subject to cost-of-living adjustments, also known as COLAs, pursuant to Section 3(e) of the Public Official Compensation Law (amended in 1995). This law mandates that Pennsylvania executives' salaries "shall be increased by applying the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland area for the most recent 12-month period for which figures have been officially reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) immediately prior to the date adjustment is due to take effect."[4]

2023

In 2023, the officer's salary was $183,712, according to the Council of State Governments.[5]

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $170,419, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]

2021

In 2021, the secretary received a salary of $161,382, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]

2020

In 2020, the secretary received a salary of $161,382 according to the Council of State Governments.[8]

2019

In 2019, the secretary received a salary of $155,879 according to the Council of State Governments.[9]

2018

In 2018, the secretary received a salary of $155,879 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]

2017

In 2017, the secretary received a salary of $154,642 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]

2016

In 2016, the secretary received a salary of $152,657 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]

2015

In 2015, the secretary received a salary of $152,657 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]

2014

In 2014, the secretary was paid an estimated $150,253 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]

2013

In 2013, the secretary was paid an estimated $149,804 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]

2010

In 2010, the secretary was paid an estimated $139,931 according to the Council of State Governments.[16]

Historical officeholders

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor and Industry 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

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor and Industry. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Contact information

PA Department of Labor & Industry
Room 1700
651 Boas Street
Harrisburg, PA 17121

General information: 717-787-5279
Press office: 717-787-7530

See also

Pennsylvania State Executive Elections News and Analysis
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Pennsylvania State Executive Offices
Pennsylvania State Legislature
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Party control of state government
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State of the state addresses
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External links

Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Pennsylvania Department of Labor, "About Labor & Industry," accessed February 2, 2021
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Pennsylvania General Assembly, "Pennsylvania Constitution," accessed February 2, 2021
  3. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, "2024-25 Enacted General Fund Tracking Run," accessed January 22, 2025
  4. Pennsylvania Legislature, "Senate Bill: Act 51 of 1995," accessed January 27, 2021
  5. Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
  6. Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
  7. Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
  8. Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 5, 2021
  9. Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 5, 2021
  10. Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 5, 2021
  11. Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 5, 2021
  12. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
  13. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
  14. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 8, 2014
  15. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 28, 2014
  16. The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States, Chapter 4, Table 4.11," accessed June 14, 2011