Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger has announced the appointment of Jessica K. Looman as Virginia’s next secretary of labor, selecting a longtime labor official with experience in federal and state government.

Looman has worked in workforce protection, labor standards enforcement and economic development for more than three decades. She will lead the cabinet-level labor agency created in 2021 to oversee worker protection and workforce development. 

Spanberger said Looman’s experience aligns with the administration’s priorities for strengthening the workforce and expanding economic opportunity. 

“Virginia’s workforce is the most talented in America — and the foundation of what makes our economy great. Workers and their families deserve leaders who will continue to expand opportunity by investing in workforce training programs and creating good-paying jobs in every region of our Commonwealth,” Spanberger said. “Ms. Looman has extensive experience supporting workers and fostering economic growth at the local, state and federal levels.” 

Looman said she is prepared to work with state agencies responsible for workforce protection and development. 

“I share Governor-elect Spanberger’s vision that both investing in the creation of good jobs and protecting workers are essential to sustaining the Commonwealth’s economic growth and shared prosperity,”Looman said. 

From 2021 to 2025, Looman served as administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division after being appointed by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. 

Her work focused on minimum wage and overtime enforcement, child labor violations, worker misclassification and retaliation.