Katie Thurber

Katie Thurber is the Nebraska Commissioner of Labor. She was appointed to this position in 2025. Before she was appointed commissioner, Thurber served as Deputy Commissioner for Operations for the Department of Labor from 2023 to 2025. She has worked with all divisions across the department to ensure high-quality service delivery. Thurber graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 2010 and interned at the Nebraska Department of Labor the same year. Other than Deputy Commissioner for Operations, over the past 13 years, Thurber has served in roles such as hearing officer, legal counsel, and Director of Unemployment Insurance.

Thurber graduated from Gering High School in Gering, NE. She received her undergraduate degree in mathematics from Birmingham-Southern College, where she received a full athletic scholarship.

Katie strives to promote cohesion across the NDOL’s programs while delivering timely and effective service for Nebraskans. She looks forward to building on these goals going forward.