Interim Nebraska labor commissioner Katie Thurber outlines priorities at confirmation hearing

Katie Thurber, interim commissioner of the Nebraska Department of Labor, appeared before the Nebraska Legislature’s Business and Labor Committee and asked members to recommend her confirmation to the full Legislature, outlining priorities that include modernizing the department, aligning workforce programs with regional economic planning and expanding apprenticeship opportunities.

Thurber told the committee that "the department is primarily federally funded, with approximately 98% of the department's funding coming from the United States Department of Labor," and said that federal changes are driving the department's need for flexibility in state policy and operations.

Why it matters: The committee’s recommendation will shape who leads the agency that administers unemployment insurance and federally funded workforce programs for Nebraska. Thurber emphasized that leadership decisions affect how the state responds to shifting federal rules, how it spends federal grants and how it aligns training programs with employers’ needs.

Thurber summarized her experience and the department’s recent legislative work. She said she has worked at the agency for 13 years in roles including general counsel, acting unemployment insurance director and deputy commissioner for operations, and that she has served as interim commissioner since the previous commissioner’s retirement. She noted the department brought several measures to the Legislature this year, including legislation to streamline the unemployment adjudication process (referred to in testimony as LB197), a bill that reduces combined unemployment insurance tax charges and gives the department more flexibility to adjust employer tax rates (referred to in testimony as LB297), and LB265, which Thurber said merges two existing workforce development programs and their funding into a single account.

On priorities if confirmed, Thurber said she will pursue modernization of agency systems to respond quickly to federal changes and to maximize federal dollars. She described workforce development goals tied to Governor Jim Pillen’s regional ‘‘One Nebraska’’ framework and said she will promote public-private partnerships and youth-focused work opportunities, including expanding apprenticeships. "I am dedicated to expanding apprenticeship opportunities for Nebraskans," she said.

Committee members questioned Thurber on several topics. A committee member identified in the hearing as Ms. Nobre Hall asked how the department could ensure that people who are legally present can access unemployment benefits; Thurber replied that "immigration in general is a federal issue" and said the department needs maximum flexibility in state statute to adapt when federal rules change. Regarding federal threats to withhold funding tied to immigration status, Thurber said the department has been tracking guidance and regulatory changes and that some recent directives relate to whether Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients are considered lawfully present under certain federal rules.

Senator Terrell McKinney asked about Nebraskans working multiple jobs. Thurber responded that "our labor force numbers are actually growing. So we've grown by about 10,000 last year," and said Nebraska should both recruit new workers and upskill existing workers to reduce the need for multiple jobs.

Thurber also described the department staff and operational focus: she thanked department employees for supporting claimants and delivering training services and said greater agility would help Nebraska better use federal funds.

The committee record shows one proponent letter submitted online and a support letter from the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce; no opponents or neutral testifiers appeared in person. The committee did not hold a recorded confirmation vote during the hearing; committee members asked questions and the hearing concluded without a final committee action on confirmation.

Background and context: Thurber said she grew up in Gearring, Nebraska, holds an undergraduate degree in mathematics from Birmingham–Southern College and a law degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She noted she clerked for the department while in law school and briefly practiced privately before returning to state service. Thurber referenced Governor Jim Pillen and thanked the previous commissioner for mentorship.

The committee hearing record and Thurber's testimony show the department is closely tied to federal funding and federal regulatory changes; Thurber framed state-level statutory flexibility and modernization as primary tools to maintain program continuity and to expand workforce training and apprenticeships.

The committee concluded the appointment hearing after members’ questions and a statement that one proponent letter was received online and a letter from the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce was submitted on Thurber’s behalf.