HARRISBURG — The man who has served as Gov. Ed Rendell's labor secretary since he took office five years ago is leaving the post next week.

Stephen Schmerin's press office notified Department of Labor & Industry employees of the decision by e-mail Thursday morning.

Schmerin plans to return to practicing law in Pittsburgh area he leaves office Jan. 31.

Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo e-mailed a statement saying Schmerin led the department with "integrity, intellect and energy."

"While his many accomplishments as secretary have largely gone unnoticed by the public and the press, he has been an outstanding leader of a critical state agency," Ardo said.

Ardo credited Schmerin for increasing labor law enforcement collections each year, reaching an all-time low of 28 labor disputes in 2006, cutting claims processing time for workers' compensation and unemployment benefits and other innovations.