Senate confirms new labor commissioner

The New Jersey State Senate on Monday confirmed Robert Asaro-Angelo as the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development by a vote of 38-0.
A native New Jerseyan, Asaro-Angelo has been the Acting Commissioner since being nominated by Gov. Phil Murphy in January.
He was lauded during his Senate Judiciary confirmation hearing as a person with the qualifications and experience to advance the Labor Department’s mission of serving, uplifting and protecting workers, and building a first-class workforce across the state to meet employers’ needs. The Judiciary panel advanced his nomination unanimously.
Asaro-Angelo spent the past six years representing the Eastern Region in the U. S. Department of Labor under President Obama. During that time, he served on several intergovernmental work groups including the White House task force on Hurricane Sandy and the Regional Interagency Council on Homelessness.
“Most of my life has been spent working for improved conditions for workers and their families,” said Asaro-Angelo. “I am extremely humbled and honored to serve as Commissioner of the great Department of Labor, and grateful to Gov. Murphy for this opportunity to ensure that every resident who seeks the dignity that comes with employment has the opportunity to secure a good, safe, family sustaining job.”
“Being on the job for the past two months in an acting capacity has enabled me to see firsthand the dedication of the Department’s nearly 3,000 employees, and the life-changing impact they have on New Jersey residents across the state. I’m excited to work with them to elevate, expand and enhance our services.”
Asaro-Angelo earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Boston University and a master’s in Public Policy from the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. He lives in East Brunswick with his wife, Sarah, and children, Joseph and Leah.