Raleigh, N.C. — State Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced Tuesday that former House Speaker Pro Tem Dale Folwell will become her assistant secretary of employment security.

At the Division of Employment Security, Folwell will be responsible for overseeing the state’s unemployment insurance system, including handling claims, managing employer accounts and enforcing employment security law.

“We’re putting more emphasis on customer service by increasing access to programs that help unemployed individuals rejoin the workforce while streamlining the process to ensure legitimate claims are processed quickly,” Decker said in a statement. “We must also improve communications with employers and prevent the release of improper benefits in order to strengthen the integrity of the NC unemployment insurance system.”

The Division of Employment Security has been under fire in recent years for mismanagement of unemployment claims.

Folwell served four terms in the state House from Forsyth County. He is a former vice president and registered investment adviser for Deutsche Bank/Alex Brown.