Rhode Island Director of Labor

Rhode Island Director of Labor and Training
General information
Office Type:	Nonpartisan
Office website:	Official Link
Compensation:	$185,305
2025 FY Budget:	$594,071,262
Term limits:	None
Structure
Length of term:	Serves at the pleasure of the governor
Authority:	Rhode Island general laws, § 42-16.1-1
Selection Method:	Appointed by the governor
Current Officeholder(s)
Rhode Island Director of Labor Matthew Weldon Nonpartisan Assumed office: April 27, 2021
Other Rhode Island Executive Offices
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission

The Rhode Island Director of Labor and Training is an appointed executive position in the Rhode Island state government. The director provides employment services, educational services, and economic opportunities for both individuals and employers.

Current officeholder

The current Rhode Island Director of Labor is Matthew Weldon (nonpartisan). Weldon assumed office in 2021.

Authority

The Department of Labor and Training, with the director of labor and training as its head, is established in Section 42-16.1-1 of the Rhode Island general laws.

§ 42-16.1-1:

There is hereby established with the executive branch of state government a department of labor and training. The head of the department shall be the director of labor and training who shall be appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor and until the appointment and qualification of a successor. The director shall receive such salary as provided by law.

Qualifications

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that establishes the requirements necessary to qualify for a state executive office. That information for the Rhode Island Director of Labor 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.

Appointments

The director of labor is appointed by the governor at the January session following his or her election to office. The state Senate must act on the appointment (by either confirming or rejecting the appointee) within 60 days of receiving notice of the appointment from the governor.

Vacancies

According to Title 42 of the Rhode Island general laws, any vacancy in the office shall be filled by gubernatorial appointment. If the state Senate is in session, the person may not serve for more than 10 days without senate approval. If the vacancy occurs during a recess, the appointee serves until the next legislative session begins and their name must be submitted to the senate for approval within three days of the legislature reconvening.

Duties

The specific duties of the director are outlined in Title 42 of the Rhode Island general laws.

“

The director of labor and training shall: Have all the powers and duties formerly vested by law in the director of labor with regard to factory inspectors and steam boiler inspectors, and such other duties as may be by law conferred upon the department; Administer the labor laws of this state concerning women and children and be responsible for satisfactory working conditions of women and children employed in industry in this state by a division in the department which shall be known as the division of labor standards; Administer the act relating to state wage payment and wage collection; Have all of the powers and duties formerly vested in the director of the department of labor and administer those responsibilities set forth in chapters 29 – 38, inclusive, of title 28; Have all the powers and duties formerly vested by law in the director of employment and training and administer those responsibilities set forth in chapters 39 – 44, inclusive, of title 28 and chapter 102 of title 42. Provide to the department of administration any information, records or documents they certify as necessary to investigate suspected misclassification of employee status, wage and hour violations, or prevailing wage violations subject to their jurisdiction, even if deemed confidential under applicable law, provided that the confidentiality of such materials shall be maintained, to the extent required of the releasing department by any federal or state law or regulation, by all state departments to which the materials are released and no such information shall be publicly disclosed, except to the extent necessary for the requesting department or agency to adjudicate a violation of applicable law. The certification must include a representation that there is probable cause to believe that a violation has occurred. State departments sharing this information or materials may enter into written agreements via memorandums of understanding to ensure the safeguarding of such released information or materials.

”

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 Rhode Island Director of Labor 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: Rhode Island state budget and finances

The budget for the Department of Labor and Training in Fiscal Year 2025 was $594,071,262.

Compensation

See also: Compensation of state executive officers

2023

In 2023, the officer's salary was $185,305, according to the Council of State Governments.

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $170,500, according to the Council of State Governments.

2021

In 2021, the director received a salary of $135,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2020

In 2020, the director received a salary of $135,000 according to the Council of State Governments.

2019

In 2019, the director received a salary of $135,000 according to the Council of State Governments.

2018

In 2018, the director received a salary of $135,000 according to the Council of State Governments.

2017

In 2017, the director received a salary of $135,000 according to the Council of State Governments.

2016

In 2016, the director received a salary of $135,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

2015

In 2015, the director received a salary of $130,152, according to the Council of State Governments.

2014

In 2014, the director received a salary of $130,152, according to the Council of State Governments.

2013

In 2013, the director received a salary of $130,152, 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 Rhode Island Director 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 Rhode Island Director of Labor and Training. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Rhode Island Director of Labor - Google News

Contact information

Rhode Island Department of Labor
Center General Complex
1511 Pontiac Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920

Phone: (401) 462-8000
Fax: (401) 462-8872

See also

• Labor Commissioner
• Scott Jensen
• Adelita Orefice

External links

Suggest a link

• Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training