The Society of Labor Economists was founded in 1996 to promote the study of labor economics and to make more significant the contribution of labor economics and labor economists. The Journal of Labor Economics is the official journal of the Society.

The Bylaws of the Society were ratified by the membership in October 1995 by a vote of 367-3. The first Annual Meeting was held May 3-4, 1996 in Chicago.

SOLE Presidents:

1997 Gary S. Becker
1998 Edward P. Lazear
1999 Richard B. Freeman
2000 Sherwin Rosen
2001 Dan Hamermesh
2002 Ron Ehrenberg
2003 Orley Ashenfelter
2004 Finis Welch
2005 John Pencavel
2006 Francine D. Blau
2007 Robert Willis
2008 Yoram Weiss
2009 Robert Pollak
2010 Richard Blundell
2011 David Card