Commissioner of Labor
The Basics
All 50 states have a Commissioner of Labor, a state-level official whose job is to enforce labor laws. In most states, the Governor appoints someone to serve in this role, but a few states elect their Commissioners directly.
Your state’s Commissioner enforces laws that impact every worker – union and non-union, hourly and salaried, full-time and contract/gig workers – and every business. Here are some of the important responsibilities a labor commissioner might have:
- Making sure workers are treated fairly
Enforcing your state’s anti-discrimination laws and investigating complaints - Enforcing wage laws
Making sure hourly workers are being paid at least minimum wage, overtime is being properly paid, and investigating wage theft - Enforcing workplace safety rules
Federal laws like OSHA lay out basic rules for workplace safety, but your state might have specific rules as well - Access to benefits
Making sure employers give their workers the benefits they’re owed, whether it’s federal FMLA benefits or other benefits your state requires, like paid family leave - Running workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance programs
These programs are crucial lifelines for workers dealing with an injury, disability, or layoff - Managing workforce development and training programs
Helping workers get the training and education they need
…and more! This is a low-profile position in a lot of state governments, but it can have a huge impact on your job, your household budget, and even your state’s economy.
How can I make my voice heard?
Democracy works when you do! Learn how to advocate for what you believe in, no matter the office or government agency, with our handy Genius Guides to advocacy.
Source: the National Association of Government Labor Officials
What have Commissioners of Labor done?
Labor policies affect every worker and business. Here are a few actions taken by Commissioners that have made a big impact:
- Luke Farley
North Carolina
Closed a loophole in state policy allowing some businesses to pay reduced penalties in cases where workers died on the job - Luke Farley
North Carolina
Eliminated a large backlog of elevator safety inspections across the state, ensuring safety in thousands of buildings
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When Oregon Labor Commissioner Christina Stephenson took office in 2023, two of the agency’s three divisions had a large backlog of claims to investigate. The Wage & Hour division investigates claims of wage theft and minimum wage violations, and recovers money owed to workers; the Civil Rights division, in addition to enforcing workplace discrimination laws, also has the important job of enforcing all of Oregon’s civil rights laws, which apply to areas like housing and public services. Commissioner Stephenson laid out the situation in the agency’s 2024 annual report, explaining that staffing had not kept pace with the increase in claims. The size of Oregon’s workforce has more than doubled since the 1980s, while the number of staff at the agency has shrunk by more than 25%; meanwhile, wage claims increased over 200% and civil rights claims increased over 100% from 2020-2024.
Oregon is known for its strong labor laws, but Commissioner Stephenson knew that without adequate enforcement, those laws would not make a difference for workers. She asked the state legislature for a 30% increase in funding for the agency to address a long history of underfunding and hire more staff. In the meantime, she pursued a strategy of educating employers on labor laws, prioritizing employers and industries with the most violations, and establishing a policy of always seeking penalties for wage theft. She also worked with the state legislature to pass tougher laws on child labor, benefits, and accommodations, giving the agency more options to investigate employers, and modernized the investigations process with some tech upgrades. Finally, she requested a comprehensive audit from the state to identify the most pressing issues and recommend more potential solutions. By 2026, the wage claims backlog was reduced by 20% and the civil rights claims backlog by almost 40%, and the agency is working on a plan to fully eliminate the backlog by 2029. The audit report, released at the end of 2025, makes clear the agency still has a long way to go, and concludes that long-term underfunding is the main source of the problem. This case shows the importance of funding for enforcement: without the resources to investigate potential violations, even the strongest laws may not lead to lasting change.
Sources: Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries; Oregon Capital Chronicle, 2025 and 2026; Northwest Labor Press
How does it work in my state?
Scroll down and click on your state to learn more about the specifics of the Commissioner of Labor’s powers and responsibilities where you live. (If your state isn’t here yet, check back often – we’re adding more info all the time. If the Commissioner of Labor isn’t an elected position where you live, it won’t appear here.)
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Term limits: none; terms are four years
Eligibility: to run for any office in North Carolina, you must be at least 21 years old and eligible to vote in the state
The Commissioner of Labor runs the North Carolina Department of Labor, which enforces the state’s labor, wage, and workplace safety laws, and has the power to take employers to court and prosecute violations. Their most important powers and responsibilities are:
- Wage and hour investigations
The Department investigates violations of minimum wage, maximum hour, and child labor laws as well as potential wage theft. It issues youth employment certificates for workers who are under 18, to make sure minors are not working dangerous jobs - Investigating discrimination and retaliation complaints
- Safety inspections
The Department has broad powers to enter any state institution, factory, store, farm, restaurant, workshop, factory, mine, mill, or other workplace to inspect it for safety and conduct investigations - Full investigative powers
The Department can take sworn testimony, examine witnesses, and hold anyone who refuses to answer their questions in contempt of court - Providing resources on workers’ rights and safety rules
No powers over unemployment or workers’ compensation: in North Carolina, unemployment benefits are managed by the Department of Commerce, and workers’ compensation goes through the Department of Insurance. But if a worker experiences retaliation related to these programs, the Labor Department might be able to help.
Sources: the North Carolina Constitution, Article III and Article VI; the North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 95; North Carolina State Board of Elections; the North Carolina Department of Labor
- Wage and hour investigations