NE’s top labor official, John Albin, to retire following a 35-year run with the Labor Department

The Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN — John Albin remembers back in 1990, when Nebraskans still filled out paper unemployment claims, and his new colleagues at the State Department of Labor entered the data into a mainframe computer.

Today those services are all online. The department that Albin rose within has modernized in myriad other ways and, more recently, pushed through a pandemic that stressed labor departments nationwide.

Now, at age 70, the state's top labor official, who served the agency in a variety of roles over 35 years, is retiring.

Gov. Jim Pillen made the announcement Wednesday.

"It's been an absolute thrill to work for three governors," Albin, a native of Humboldt, told the Nebraska Examiner. "That doesn't happen very often in my profession."

A graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Law, Albin joined the department as an administrative law judge, rose to general counsel and was appointed acting labor commissioner in 2014 by Gov. Dave Heineman. Albin was named commissioner the following year by Gov. Pete Ricketts and in 2022 was reappointed by Pillen.

His last day on the job will be Dec. 20, after which Albin said he will spend more time traveling with his wife, Lupe, whom he married in the spring, and his grandkids (come February there will be two more, for a total of four).

"There's a lot of places in the world I want to see and I want to get to a few of those while I'm still in good health," Albin said.

He and his wife built a winter retreat in New Mexico, and they'd like to spend more time there.

Among his proudest accomplishments, Albin said, is directing a team that served the state well throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said a lot of their counterparts in other states "melted down" during those tough times of unemployment, benefit demands and claims.

"My team didn't," he said, noting long days and determination to get benefits paid. "We were proud of how well we came through that."

He pointed also to his role in growing JAG Nebraska, the state's Jobs for America's Graduates program, which has gone from three participating schools in 2019 to nearly 85 schools with more than 4,000 students.

The program provides professional and technical education to empower students to overcome challenges and achieve in school, work and life.

Pillen, in a statement, said Albin's length of service to the Labor Department "speaks volumes" about his commitment to public service.

"Nebraska has been the benefit of his dedication, vision and leadership. I wish Commissioner Albin the best as he embraces his retirement and future activities."

Pillen said he will announce later any decision about interim leadership or an appointment.