Artificial intelligence, automation, hybrid work, and demographic change are often discussed at the policy or executive level. But these forces do not operate in abstraction. They show up in intake conversations, case notes, employer meetings, training referrals, and follow-up calls. Frontline workforce staff are where macro forces become real. If systems are to adapt successfully, […]
The International Association of Workforce Professionals (IAWP) will host a live webinar featuring Ben Armstrong, Executive Director of MIT’s Industrial Performance Center and co-leader of the Work of the Future initiative at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This session will examine what generative AI is actually doing inside organizations—beyond headlines and speculation. Drawing from the
What MIT Is Learning About AI and Workforce Change A Live IAWP Webinar Read More »
As workforce development professionals, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projections for 2024–34 give us a decade-long view of where jobs are expected to grow, where they’re likely to shrink, and what that implies for training, planning, and employer engagement. Here’s the bottom-line: • Overall job growth will be modest. The U.S. economy is projected
What the New BLS Long-Term Job Projections Mean for Workforce Development Read More »
Over the past year, Job Corps has gone through a level of uncertainty that most long-standing workforce programs rarely face. At one point, many centers were preparing for closure. Today, the program is still operating—but with some important caveats that workforce professionals should be aware of. So, what actually happened? In 2025, the Department of
Job Corps: Where Things Stand and Why It Matters to the Workforce System Read More »
If you work on the front lines of the workforce system—career services, case management, business services, intake, training coordination—TEGL 07-25 probably didn’t land on your desk. And that’s normal. Training and Employment Guidance Letters are written to states, not to individual staff. But this one matters to you more than most. Even though TEGL 07-25
Workforce development systems are complex by design. Federal guidance establishes broad goals and accountability. States translate those goals into policy. Local areas integrate multiple funding streams, performance measures, partner programs, and community needs. Each layer adds value—but each layer also adds decisions, timelines, and requirements that must be navigated at the point of service. This
Making Complexity Navigable: Clarity at the Front Line Read More »
Workforce development professionals are under pressure to deliver results in a labor market defined by shortages, rapid change, and employer frustration. At the same time, one of the most capable and available segments of the workforce—older workers—often remains underutilized. Recent research from AARP, using LinkedIn labor market data, reinforces what many practitioners already see on
Helping Older Workers Find Jobs: A Practical Workforce Development Imperative Read More »
March 28, 2026 | Westport, Washington The Washington Chapter of the IAWP invites workforce professionals to gather on the Washington coast for the Winter Institute & Crab Feed, taking place on March 28, 2026, in Westport. This annual event brings together focused professional development, meaningful peer connection, and one of the chapter’s most valued traditions.
Learning, Leadership, and Community: IAWP Washington Winter Institute & Crab Feed Read More »
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced that $98 million in new funding is now available to support YouthBuild programs focused on education, pre-apprenticeship training, and employment services for young people. The funding is intended to help communities deliver pre-apprenticeship programs in high-demand industries such as construction, advanced manufacturing, information technology, and healthcare. These programs
If you work closely with job seekers, you’ve probably noticed something: interviews feel different now. Shorter. Faster. Sometimes more awkward. Often more opaque. And yet, much of the advice job seekers still receive hasn’t really changed—“be confident,” “sell yourself,” “practice common questions.” None of that is wrong, exactly. It’s just no longer enough. Today’s hiring