About the Secretary
Portia Wu, Secretary
Maryland Department of Labor
Portia Wu serves as the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor, leading an agency that connects Marylanders to good jobs; protects workers, consumers, and the public; supports businesses; and fosters economic growth.
Since her 2023 confirmation, Secretary Wu has launched high-impact programs to support Marylanders through challenging times. This includes emergency programs supporting thousands of workers and businesses after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and support for federal workers in Maryland during layoffs and shutdowns. She has steered MD Labor toward a focus on economic growth by expanding apprenticeship and workforce partnerships in lighthouse sectors including cybersecurity, life sciences, healthcare, and infrastructure. Under her leadership, the Department has strengthened Maryland’s consumer and worker protections through policy and enforcement initiatives. She has focused on modernizing the Department’s critical operations and existing programs that serve Maryland businesses and workers while launching paid family and medical leave insurance.
Secretary Wu is an experienced leader who has spent her career developing and implementing policies that benefit America’s workers. She joined the Moore-Miller Administration after serving as Managing Director of U.S. Public Policy at Microsoft. Her extensive federal experience includes serving as the Senate-confirmed U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training and Special Assistant to the President for Labor and Workforce Policy during the Obama Administration.
She also was Labor Policy Director and General Counsel to the U.S. Senate HELP Committee, under the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Secretary Wu began her legal career at Bredhoff & Kaiser representing workers in transitioning industries and later served as Vice President at the National Partnership for Women & Families, advocating for paid leave and workplace fairness. She holds degrees from Yale (B.A.), Cornell University (M.A.), and Yale Law School (J.D.).