Commissioner

Bárbara Rivera Holmes

Commissioner of Labor

Bárbara Rivera Holmes was sworn in as the 11th Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor and the state's first Latina constitutional officer on April 4, 2025, by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. The Georgia Department of Labor is pivotal to the state's economic health, providing essential services such as unemployment insurance, job placement, and workforce development programs. These services are vital for supporting individuals and businesses, ensuring that Georgia's labor market remains robust and competitive and that Georgia remains the No. 1 state for business.

Holmes' extensive experience includes a professional background in economic development, policy, talent development and small business advocacy; and appointments by former Gov. Nathan Deal to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, which oversees Georgia's 26 public colleges and universities, and by Gov. Kemp to the Georgia Rural Development Council. Holmes co-chaired the Georgia Innovates Task Force, which helped design the state's technology blueprint. Her contributions have been recognized with a Congressional Commendation and multiple accolades from the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Georgia Trend.

A former journalist, Holmes has earned awards for excellence in journalism from the Georgia Associated Press. She holds degrees in journalism and Spanish from Florida Southern College and studied at Estudio Sampere Internacional in Spain. A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Holmes resides in Albany with her husband, David, and their daughter.