The Georgia Labor Commissioner oversees labor regulations and development of Georgia’s workforce
Current Labor Commissioner: Mark Butler
- The Labor Commissioner is responsible for implementing the state’s labor regulations, such as maintaining the minimum wage and enforcing child labor protections.
- The Labor Commissioner is responsible for operating Georgia’s unemployment benefits program and rehabilitation programs. During the COVID pandemic, this role has become increasingly important as more people have lost their jobs and have filed for unemployment insurance and other related benefits.
- In addition to these primary responsibilities, the Labor Commissioner produces statistics and research covering the Georgia labor market. The Labor Commissioner also creates workforce development and training programs, such as the GeorgiaBEST high school certificate vocational program.
- The Labor Commissioner is elected to 4-year terms in a statewide election. There are no term limits for the Labor Commissioner and the salary is typically around $122,000/year.
2022 Candidates for Labor Commissioner
Where do the candidates stand on the issues that matter to you?
| The Issues that Matter | Bruce Thompson Republican | Emily Anderson Libertarian | Will Boddie Democrat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workers Rights | Bruce Thompson’s website did not contain information on this issue | Emily Anderson did not have a website or publicly available contact information | Said, “[I will put] Georgia Workers First through the implementation of services, policy recommendations to the Georgia General Assembly, and robust training/(re)training opportunities.” |
| COVID | Wants to address issues around Georgians not receiving unemployment benefits. Wants to address fraudulent unemployment benefit claims. | Emily Anderson did not have a website or publicly available contact information | Wants to address the backlog of unemployment insurance claims by updating technology and increasing staff. Wants to install modernized technology, hire additional staff, and implement new policies & procedures to be prepared for future natural disasters, public health emergencies, or an economic recession that can affect the State of Georgia. |
| The Economy | Wants to shift the Labor Department into a cloud-based system, saying this will “reduce the cost of processing claims while providing a user-friendly interface for the public.” Wants to focus on young people by introducing them to trades in high demand, veterans to help them find jobs when they leave the service, seniors to “take advantage of their experience and desire to work after they retire”, and the prison system to create more employment opportunities for ex-convicts. Said, “[I will] ensure that Georgia businesses, big and small, can succeed.” | Emily Anderson did not have a website or publicly available contact information | Wants to open more Career Centers throughout the State of Georgia. Wants to merge business training programs, union apprenticeship programs, technical colleges, labor/community organizations, and vocational schools. Wants to create a departmental program that encourages Georgia employers to recruit and hire Georgia workers trained to meet these employers’ needs. |
