Biography for Deputy Commissioner Jane Gilbert

Maine Deputy Labor Commissioner Jane Gilbert Jane Gilbert is Deputy Commissioner of the Maine Department of Labor, where she oversees personnel issues and policy development for the agency.

Appointed to the position in the summer of 2003, Jane brought with her 39 years of Maine State Government service. Most recently, she was Director of Human Resources for the Maine Department of Transportation; she started out as a Photo Lab Assistant in 1970. Between times, she served as State Affirmative Action Officer and as Personnel Director at the Maine State Prison. Prior to joining management, Jane was an active union member: steward, bargaining team member, president of the union local, and founding member of the Maine Chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women.

Jane is known and respected not only in the New England Region, but – in certain circles – even nationwide, for her leadership, commitment and passion for Civil Rights issues. In particular, Jane has been a nationwide leader in successful integration of women into the bridge and highway construction industry. She is particularly proud of the strategy of skills training, child care and on-site civil rights compliance monitoring she implemented on three major Maine bridge construction projects – which resulted in an unprecedented 10 percent of the hours worked being worked by women. Also, she has developed a significant welfare reform initiative, which boosts women on welfare into good paying highway maintenance jobs.

In her civic involvement, Jane is a determined activist for economic equity for all people. She currently serves as Vice President of the board of the Maine Children’s Alliance and has previously sat on the boards of the Family Violence Project, the Children’s Center, Maine Share, Maine Women’s Lobby and the Maine Lesbian Gay Political Alliance.

download a high resolution TIF photo

MDOL Services

Biography for Deputy Commissioner Jane Gilbert