Tomorrow, the Alabama Department of Labor will officially become the Alabama Department of Workforce — and Secretary Greg Reed will serve as its first leader.

Governor Kay Ivey announced that on February 1, 2025, the transition first initiated by lawmakers during the 2024 state legislative session will go into effect, current Secretary of Labor Marty Redden will retire after 16 years in state government, and her advisor on transforming the department, Greg Reed, will serve as the inaugural Secretary of Workforce.

“Increasing Alabama’s labor force participation rate is the current focus of our workforce development efforts,” Governor Ivey said.

“We are attracting significant business investments and new jobs, and we are helping our existing companies grow, and it is imperative we prepare our workforce. I am grateful for the good work Marty has done to begin this new chapter of workforce development in Alabama. I am excited for Greg to now take the helm and get to work.”

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As Secretary of Workforce, Reed will continue the full implementation of what he first began with legislative colleagues in the Working for Alabama legislative package.

In November, Reed stepped down as Pro Tem and resigned his seat in order to take on the role of Ivey’s senior advisor for workforce transformation.

Ivey’s office reports the department transition will be completed by summer of this year.

“I am immensely honored to be the first Secretary of Workforce for the state of Alabama, and I am incredibly thankful to Governor Ivey that she has entrusted me to carry out her vision to tackle this all important task,” Reed said on Friday.

“Today is the first step in our mandate to make Alabama’s economy all that she can be, and workforce will be at the forefront of that mission. It is my commitment that this new agency will do all that it can to ensure Alabama workers are the best trained and most highly skilled in America.

“It will be my focus to champion Governor Ivey’s goals by collaborating with the business community, the education community, the manufacturing and industrial community, the Alabama Legislature and our federal delegation to coordinate our efforts and achieve best outcomes for the people of Alabama. I could not be more excited about this new and important initiative,” he added.

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In addition to helping ensure Alabama achieves maximum rates of employment, the Alabama Department of Workforce will fulfill traditional department responsibilities, including workplace safety and child labor enforcement, unemployment and workers’ compensation, labor market information, as well as inspections.