THE LATEST WORKFORCE NEWS
Save time and subscribe to IAWP’s Workforce at Work newsletter. This newsletter shares with you the hot items from the news on workforce system issues as well as looks at trends, changes in laws and regulations, and what’s next in our profession.
$100 Million Bet on “Good Jobs”: What It Signals for Workforce Professionals
A recent announcement from the Rockefeller Foundation highlights a significant new investment in the future of work: a $100 million, three-year initiative aimed at connecting Americans to “good jobs” in the face of rapid economic and technological change. At first glance, this may read like another large-scale funding announcement. But for workforce professionals, it signals […]
Workforce Pell Is Coming: What It Means for Front-Line Staff
You’re going to start seeing a shift in the people you serve — and in the questions they ask. Workforce Pell is opening the door for people to use Pell Grants for short-term training programs. That means more individuals will be able to pay for training without going through the usual workforce funding process. And […]
How Workers Are Training Themselves — And What It Means for Workforce Development Professionals
Workers aren’t waiting for programs to catch up. Right now, millions of people are quietly building new skills on their own time, using tools that are mostly free, mostly online, and mostly invisible to the workforce development system. As practitioners, that matters — because it’s changing who walks through your door and what they actually […]
Ben Takeshita — IAWP Leader and Advocate for Learning from History
August 2, 1930 – October 17, 2025 Ben Takeshita passed away on October 17, 2025, at the age of 95. He lived a long and meaningful life marked by resilience, integrity, and a deep commitment to service and understanding. Born on August 2, 1930, Ben’s early years were shaped by one of the most difficult […]
AI, Apprenticeships, and a Shift the Workforce System Shouldn’t Miss
When most people think about Registered Apprenticeships, the image is still tied to traditional trades—roles with long-established pathways and clear progression. That remains true. But it is no longer the full picture. A recent announcement from the U.S. Department of Labor signals something important: apprenticeships are moving directly into the world of artificial intelligence. Not […]
The Next Workforce Shift Is Already Here—And NSF Is Moving Fast
Artificial intelligence is no longer something on the horizon. It’s already showing up in hiring, changing how jobs are done, and quietly reshaping expectations across industries. The real question isn’t whether AI will impact the workforce. It already is.The question is whether workers—and the systems that support them—are keeping up. A recent national initiative from […]
What the Latest Stanford AI Index Really Says About Jobs and the Workforce
If you step back from the headlines, the newest insights coming out of Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI don’t point to a simple story about AI replacing jobs. They point to something more complex—and more important for workforce professionals to understand. This is not a collapse. It’s a restructuring. The Job Market Isn’t Breaking—But It […]
Closing the Gap Between Help and Hiring: What the Stronger Workforce for America Act Means on the Front Line
A person walks into a workforce center—maybe recently laid off, maybe stuck in a job with no future, maybe simply unsure what comes next. You ask the familiar questions about their background, their goals, and what they need right now. But underneath that conversation is the real challenge: connecting them to something that actually leads […]
U.S. Department of Labor Announces New AI Literacy Initiative and Free Learning Resources
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a new national initiative focused on expanding artificial intelligence (AI) literacy across the workforce system. The announcement introduces a set of resources designed to help workers, employers, and workforce organizations better understand and engage with AI in the workplace. Access the Official Announcement and Resources The Department of […]
The Barriers We Keep Talking About—And Still Haven’t Solved
If you spend any time reading the latest workforce research—or just talking to people doing the work on the ground—you start to notice a pattern. Different reports. Different regions. Different populations. Same conclusion. The biggest barriers to work right now aren’t just about skills. They’re structural. Childcare. Transportation. And something we don’t talk about enough—process […]