Department of Labor, led by Labor Commissioner Luke Farley, is charged by law with promoting the health, safety, and general well-being of working North Carolinians. State law provides the Labor Commissioner with broad regulatory and enforcement powers to achieve that mission. The Labor Commissioner is a constitutional officer elected statewide to a four-year term. Key responsibilities include the administration and enforcement of workplace safety and health standards; wage and hour laws covering minimum wage and overtime; and the inspection of boilers, elevators, amusement rides, and mining operations. The Department also provides education, training, and consultation to foster safe and healthy workplaces. By law, the department works to protect more than 4 million workers at over 400,000 businesses across the state. The programs and services we administer impact every worker — and virtually every North Carolinian. The Department of Labor traces its origins to 1887, when the General Assembly created the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Since then, the Department has evolved into a modern state government agency devoted to workplace safety, economic opportunity, and the fair treatment of all who live and work in North Carolina.
