When we talk about workforce development today, it’s easy to think of it as a modern concept, born out of recent conversations about skills, technology, and the future of work. But the idea has much deeper roots. The workforce development system has evolved for more than a century, shaped by shifting economic conditions, social needs, […]
The Workforce Development System: Past, Present, and Future Read More »
President Donald Trump announced the nomination of E.J. Antoni, chief economist at the Heritage Foundation, to become the next Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This nomination followed the abrupt dismissal of Erika McEntarfer, the previous commissioner, on August 1, 2025, just hours after the release of a weak jobs report that included downward
E.J. Antoni Nominated to Lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics Read More »
The job market is shifting fast. Artificial intelligence and automation are changing what companies look for, making the old advice of just “updating your resume and applying online” less effective than ever. For workforce development professionals, it’s a new challenge: how to guide job seekers to not just survive, but to stand out and thrive.
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A Turning Point for the Nation’s Workforce A new plan emerged from Washington — one that aims to redefine how the United States prepares its people for work in an era of constant change. America’s Talent Strategy: Building the Workforce for the Golden Age was introduced by the Departments of Labor, Commerce, and Education as
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In the rapidly shifting world of workforce development, some opportunities come and go quietly. This is not one of them. On August 11, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) announced a $30 million Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund, and State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) are in prime position to lead. With awards
You may have seen the headlines: the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) just issued one of the largest two‑month downward revisions to job growth outside the pandemic era. May’s job gains were revised from +144,000 down to just +19,000, and June’s from +147,000 to +14,000—a combined loss of 258,000 jobs from the initial estimates. For
On July 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor released Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) No. 14-25, officially launching the next round of planning for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 State Quality Service Plans. If you work in or alongside unemployment insurance (UI) programs—or support job seekers affected by them—this guidance will shape your priorities
New Federal Guidance for State UI Plans: What Workforce Professionals Need to Know Read More »
On July 15, 2025, the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education jointly announced a structural realignment that changes how certain federally funded education and workforce programs are administered. Under the new arrangement, the Department of Labor (DOL) will take over management of two major programs previously administered by the Department of Education: WIOA Title II:
If you work in a state workforce agency, you’re probably already feeling it: the winds are shifting. Federal workforce priorities are changing, and those changes are making their way from policy memos to your daily work. What happens in D.C. may seem far away, but let’s be honest—it shows up pretty quickly in our centers,
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For decades, a college degree served as a universal signal of employability. It appeared on job descriptions as a default requirement—even when the actual work did not require the knowledge gained in a formal classroom setting. Today, that dynamic is changing rapidly. Across industries, employers are moving away from degree-based hiring toward a skills-first approach.
The New Currency of Hiring: Why Skills Are Overtaking Degrees Read More »