The National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) 2025 Winter Policy Forum is a crucial event for state workforce agencies and their partners because it serves as a platform to discuss workforce policy, funding, and priorities at both state and federal levels. For state workforce leaders, it’s a key opportunity to stay informed, influence policy, and build relationships that enhance workforce programs nationwide.
2025 NASWA Winter Policy Forum focus
NASWA is instrumental in advancing workforce system modernization, unemployment insurance reform and integrity, workforce development and training, labor market information and data sharing, workforce program accessibility and engagement, and state and federal collaboration—all topics that we’re passionate about. Not only was Resultant proud to sponsor this event, our workforce development team also enjoyed hosting a private gathering outside of the event where attendees engaged in meaningful discussions on the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
This year’s key sessions focused on policy, partnerships, trends, and using AI to create more efficiency within agencies.
“We’re excited about what lies ahead for NASWA and workforce agencies nationwide in 2025,” said Resultant Director of Workforce and Economic Development Michael Schmierer. “The Winter Policy Forum was a great time to connect with leaders in the sector, share ideas, and learn about these incredible innovative solutions coming into use.”
Top Priorities for State Workforce Agencies in 2025
The workforce ecosystem is fractured, with different agencies and programs operating without insight between state and local initiatives. While approaches to reforming the workforce ecosystem that include bringing stakeholders together for discussions are beneficial, there are gaps and limitations: If an entire industry section can’t attend, that voice can’t be heard and can’t impact the program and policy decisions that come out of the meeting.
What if we could leverage data and technology to do the same things that these convenings with local and state workforce boards, chambers of commerce, and state agencies do—without the limitations? And with even more pieces of the big picture for clear focus? How agencies and partners can work together to better serve the overall workforce system and speak with one voice was a big topic of conversation at this year’s forum.
To move toward this direction, NASWA identified top priorities for state workforce agency CIOs in 2025.
When the workforce ecosystem operates as one entity, it’s automatically more efficient. With efficiencies, not only do we get rid of needless expenses, but the work agencies do has greater impact on constituents, employers, and the economy. Resultant has a long history of helping states find greater efficiency and impact and we’re excited about the possibilities AI brings to the table to facilitate these efforts.
NASWA has additionally published their 2025 legislative priorities here.
Key Takeaways from the Forum Sessions
Here are my key takeaways from the forum sessions.
Policy and funding: The Stronger Workforce for America Act, which proposed updates to 2014’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), did not pass Congress in December. However, there’s potential for it to be reconsidered in the future. How can we best prepare for its next iteration? Enhancing data literacy, improving data sharing and interoperability, and utilizing AI to streamline workflows are strategies that contribute to creating a more efficient and cohesive workforce ecosystem. Such collaboration and preparation will prove beneficial, regardless of the bill’s future.
Research findings: Enabling faster access to accurate labor market data will go a long way toward building better workforce outcomes. Several states are in the process of exploring what solutions might work best for their objectives. Resultant is currently building custom prototypes for multiple states that bring disparate data sources together—including some data types that have never been part of the process before—to enable real-time insights and analytics.
Tapping into ways to boost labor force participation furthers these results. AI-powered tools can identify workforce barriers, predict labor market trends, and connect constituents with tailored employment and training opportunities, strengthening state economies and individual economic security and mobility.
The role of technology in shaping workforce solutions: The overall theme we kept hearing throughout the 2025 NASWA Winter Policy Forum is that now is the time to think innovatively, with an eye toward efficiency. Think about your systems: Have you had them for a decade or two? Did they do what you wanted? Are these the systems that will continue to best serve government as we serve constituents? Are they scalable, able to accommodate to the next unknown? Can they keep up with AI-infused tech? For that matter, how can we best use AI to create efficiencies?
Trends we’re seeing:
- AI has surged to the number two priority for state workforce CIOs.
- Workforce agencies are exploring process automation, digital assistants, and AI-driven customer service tools to streamline operations and reduce administrative burdens.
- AI-driven data analytics and predictive modeling can identify labor market trends, workforce gaps, and skills mismatches, helping agencies optimize job training programs and funding allocations.
- AI is being leveraged to personalize job recommendations and career coaching through tools like Indiana’s Workforce Recommendation Engine (also known as Pivot in Indiana), which connects jobseekers with tailored employment and training opportunities.
Preparing for the Future with Resultant
Several states are bringing forth legislation to get a clearer picture of their outcomes and/or ROI on investments in technology and specific programs, like those in workforce. Resultant has long been focused on showing value early in the process of our public sector engagements—frankly, because waiting until the very end to see if an undertaking is worth it doesn’t make sense for the customer. With the advancements in AI-infused technology and the depth of public sector experience in our team, you don’t have to wait that long anymore.
Secure, streamlined access to both structured and unstructured data—whether workforce, unemployment insurance, or other—is the first step to realizing value from your data and technology investment.
A data warehouse is like a central library for all your important business information, allowing you to quickly find the insights you need. For example, let’s say you’re a workforce development agency. You have data in different systems: job training program enrollment, local employer needs, unemployment statistics, and demographic information. A data warehouse brings all this together.
Suddenly, you can see which training programs actually lead to jobs in high-demand sectors. This allows you to focus funding on effective programs, reduce unemployment, and attract new businesses by showcasing a skilled workforce.
Without a data warehouse, you’d be spending countless hours manually compiling and comparing spreadsheets, likely missing key connections and wasting valuable time and resources.
Resultant’s Workforce Strategy Workshop
Understanding a customer journey is imperative to understanding the scope of work to be done to increase efficiency, and that term “customer” refers both to the states engaging our services and the constituents they serve.
Building a more easily navigable system for citizens using low-risk AI with UI plain language yields less error and backlog in processing claims. This large language model (LLM) is a closed secure environment. Unlike publicly available systems such as ChatGPT and Gemini, it keeps sensitive data private.
Indiana’s Pivot, powered by our Workforce Recommendation Engine (WRE), stands as a great example of a successful AI implementation focused on a streamlined customer experience for constituents, creating greatly improved outcomes for workers, employers, and states alike.
These are just a few examples of how we’ve helped states with custom solutions to improve workforce outcomes. I encourage readers facing workforce challenges and those scrutinizing their current systems to set up a complimentary workforce strategy workshop. You’ll receive expert guidance, ideas on customized solutions, and action steps to get you closer to the workforce outcomes you seek.
Click here to reserve your workshop today.
