Labor Names New Unemployment Insurance Director

Oct. 10, 2002
No. 02-58

Bill Kramer to lead state's largest worker program, to strengthen local economies

Citing nearly 30 years of both private and public sector experience, including business, supervisory and data processing management, Labor's Employment Security Division announced today that Bill Kramer will head the state's Unemployment Insurance program - a program that pumps over $130 million each year into local economies in temporary wage replacement payments to workers out of jobs.

"Bill's experience and flawless employment record will be assets in guiding the UI program, making it even better than it is today," Ron Hull, Employment Security Director said.

The Division for the last 15 years has employed Mr. Kramer, just recently as the Technology Support Services Manager, where he tracked high level data processing projects, budgeting and keeping the division's technology priorities at the forefront.

In his new post, Mr. Kramer will oversee a statewide staff, including the management of three Unemployment Insurance call centers located in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, which process over 90 percent of the state's claims for jobless benefits using telephone technology. For state fiscal year 2002, Alaska's UI program paid $132 million in benefits to 54,500 individuals for an average duration of 14 weeks.

The Unemployment Insurance program pays benefits to only eligible workers who have been attached to the labor market, often in high skilled occupations, who are out of work through no fault of their own and must be able and willing to accept work when available while they claim benefits. The program dates back to the 1930's when the nation experienced drastic economic downturn and has proven its value since in stabilizing local economies.

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