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Alabama Commissioner of Labor
| Alabama Commissioner of Labor | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $185,866 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $252,186,869 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the pleasure of the governor |
| Authority: | Alabama Code, Section 25-3-2 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by Governor |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Alabama Commissioner of Labor
Marty Redden | |
| Other Alabama Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Alabama Commissioner of Labor is a state executive position in the Alabama state government. The commissioner is chief executive of the Alabama Department of Labor. The commissioner is responsible for educating newly unemployed Alabamans about their rights and negotiating with businesses and "[creating] a more positive economic environment for Alabama employers and workers".[1]
Current officeholder
The acting Alabama Commissioner of Labor is Marty Redden (nonpartisan). Redden assumed office in 2024.
Authority
The office of labor commissioner is authorized by statute, not the state's constitution. Section 25-3-2 of the Code of Alabama states that the commissioner is "responsible ... for the administration of the Department of Labor."[2]
Code of Alabama, Section 25-3-2
| The Department of Labor shall be headed by and shall be under the direction, supervision, and control of an officer who shall be known and designated as the Secretary of Labor. The Secretary of Labor shall be the advisor of the Governor and the Legislature in matters relating to employer-employee relations and the welfare of the wage earners of the state. He or she shall be responsible to the Governor for the administration of the Department of Labor. |
Qualifications
Alabama law does not provide any specific requirements for holding office, other than that the incumbent must deposit a bond with the state "conditioned upon a faithful discharge of his or her duties" and that the commissioner must devote full time to official duties. The commissioner also may not hold any other political office or any private sector position that would conflict with the commissioner's official duties.[2]
Code of Alabama, Section 25-3-2
| Before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, the Secretary of Labor shall take the constitutional oath of office. Before entering upon the duties of office, the Secretary of Labor shall execute to the State of Alabama a bond, to be approved by the Governor, in an amount to be fixed by the Governor, but not less than $10,000.00, for the faithful performance of the duties of the office. The Secretary of Labor shall devote full time to his or her official duties and shall not hold another office under the government of the United States, or under any other state, or of this state or any political subdivision thereof, during his or her incumbency in such office, and shall not hold any position of trust or profit, or engage in any occupation or business the conduct of which shall interfere or be inconsistent with his or her duties as Secretary of Labor under the provisions of this title. |
Appointments
The commissioner is appointed by the governor and serves at the governor's pleasure.[2]
Term limits
There are no particular term limits specified for the commissioner.
Vacancies
Vacancies are filled "in the same manner as original appointments are made," i.e. by the governor.[2]
Duties
The commissioner helps resolve labor disputes, enforces state labor laws and promotes cooperation between labor and business leaders. The commissioner also coordinates with federal officials from the U.S. Department of Labor.[3]
The commissioner has a particular mandate to avoid "strikes, lockouts, boycotts, blacklists and discriminations" by facilitating the peaceful resolution of labor disputes. Like most Alabama state executives, the commissioner is required to make an annual report to the governor on the department's activities and keep a permanent record of official acts.[2]
Divisions
As of January 5, 2021, divisions within the Department of Labor included:[4]
- Unemployment Compensation
- AlabamaWorks!
- Workers' Compensation
- Internal Security
- Labor Market Information
- Inspections - Mining, Boilers and Elevators
- Government Affairs
- Hearings and Appeals
State budget
- See also: Alabama state budget and finances
The budget for the Department of Labor in Fiscal Year 2025 was $252,186,869.[5]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $185,866, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $170,459, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2021
In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $177,871, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2020
In 2020, the commissioner received a salary of $176,855 according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2019
In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $139,859 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2018
In 2018, the commissioner received a salary of $139,859 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2017
In 2017, the commissioner received a salary of $139,859 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2016
In 2016, the labor commissioner received a salary of $139,859, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2015
In 2015, the labor commissioner received a salary of $139,859, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2014
In 2014, the labor commissioner's salary was $139,259, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2013
In 2013, the labor commissioner's salary was $139,259, according to the Council of State Governments.
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Alabama 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
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Alabama Commissioner Labor. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact info
Mailing address:
RSA Union, 6th Floor
PO Box 303500
Montgomery, AL 36130
Phone: (334) 242-3460
See also
| Alabama | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Calhoun Journal, "Governor Kay Ivey Announces Retirement of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington, Appoints Marty Redden to Lead Transition," September 29, 2024
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Code of Alabama, "Section 25-3-2," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Alabama Department of Labor, "About," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Alabama Department of Labor, "Divisions of the Examiners of Public Accounts," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Alabama Department of Finance, "Act 2024-355," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 15, 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, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 5, 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
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed November 14, 2014
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