Workforce Innovation Awards Nominations
These best practices are collected from annual Workforce Innovation Award nominations. States submit programs, projects, or initiatives, which address a challenge they face, and result in significant performance or service improvements.
Current Association Year Workforce Innovation Award Nominees
Select the links below to view the nominees' submissions. * = Award winner
Winter Workforce Innovation Award Nominees
- Data Insights and Innovations Award | This award honors a state workforce agency, or partnership involving a state workforce agency, for achievements related to labor market and workforce information.
- California Occupational Guides - California Employment Development Department
- MaineEARNS and Student Career Discovery Dashboard - Maine Department of Labor
- Career Pathfinder Tool - Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity
- Michigan Registered Apprenticeship Dashboard - Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget, Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives
- Nevada Use of R in Producing Labor Market Information - Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation*
- LMI County Economic Profiles Information and Visualization Tool - Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Office of Workforce Development/Bureau of LaborMarket Information
- QualityInfo.org Website Redesign - Oregon Employment Department
- Data Visualization Solutions - Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
- Agency Data Dashboard in Tableau - South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce
- Labor Force Participation Rate Team and Dashboard - Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development
- Workforce Data Integration System - Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
- Merrill Baumgardner Innovation in Information Technology Award | This award honors a state demonstrating excellence in the field of information technology.
- Workforce One Connect Mobile App - Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development*
- UI Customer Service 360° and Perkins Platform - New York State Department of Labor
- North Carolina Fraud Prevention and Detection Initiative - North Carolina Department of Commerce - Division of Employment Security
- Fraud Prevention and Detection Solutions - Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
- Modernization Program, UI Modernization Project – Frances - Oregon Employment Department
- Improving Service Delivery Through IT Transformation - Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
- Pinnacle Award for Business Development | This award honors a state workforce agency (or their partnership) for an innovative business services initiative, framework, or effort of national impact, that addresses the employment/workforce needs of businesses at one or several stages (growth, maintenance, downsizing) and results in significant positive impacts for businesses.
- Mobile Workforce Centers - Arkansas Division of Workforce Services
- Business Engagement Division - Iowa Workforce Development
- New England Regional Virtual Job Fair - MassHire Department of Career Services
- Apprenticeship Success Coordinators - Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity, Workforce Development
- EmployNV Business Hub - Nevada Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation*
- SkillUp™ PA - Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
- Blue Oval City Partnership - Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development
- Wisconsin Registered and Youth Apprenticeship Programs - Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
- Pinnacle Award for Workforce Development | This award recognizes a state workforce agency (or their partnership) for an innovative workforce project, strategy, or initiative that involves assisting certain or all customers with career services and/or the attainment of in-demand skills and credentials, and which results in significant contributions towards the achievement of opportunity for customers.
- Mobile Workforce Centers - Arkansas Division of Workforce Services
- Reemployment Case Management - Iowa Workforce Development
- Drive Your Future - Louisiana Workforce Commission
- Healthcare Training For Maine - Maine Department of Labor
- Michigan's Incarcerated Veterans' Workshops - Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity, Office of Employment & Training
- Good Jobs Now Initiative - Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
- American Rescue Plan Act Rapid Retraining Program - Montana Department of Labor and Industry
- Realizing Opportunities for the American Dream to Succeed (ROADS) Initiative - Nevada Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation
- SkillUp™ PA - Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
- Labor Force Participation Task Force - South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce
- South Dakota UpSkill - South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation
- Reentry, Employment, Adult Education Program - Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development*
- Conducting Innovation: Multiple Projects to Improve Services - Texas Workforce Commission
- Case Management and Transition Services for Incarcerated Youth - Utah Department of Workforce Services
- Workforce Solutions Initiative - Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
- Co-Enrollment Initiative - Wyoming Department of Workforce Services
- William J. Harris Equal Opportunity Award | This award recognizes a State, or partnership involving a State, for an innovative workforce-related program, project, or initiative which results in significant contributions towards the achievement of equal opportunity and nondiscrimination.
- Language Accessibility Expansion - California Employment Development Department
- Disability Program Navigator (DPN) Program - Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Workforce Development Programs
- Maine Apprenticeship for Individuals with Disabilities - Maine Department of Labor
- 2022 Midwest Equal Opportunity Summit - Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development*
- Connection Point Expansion - South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce
- DEI Recruitment and Retention Initiative - Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
Previous Workforce Innovation Award Nominees
Use the dropdown arrows to view the previous award nominees grouped by subject area.
Agency Resource Planning
Apprenticeships
Business Services
- Teacher in the Workplace: Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
- Employer Self-Service Initiative: Georgia Department of Labor
- Customized Recruitment of Georgia: Georgia Department of Labor
- Maryland Business Express Website: Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
- MassHire BizWorks Initiative: MassHire Department of Career Services
- OESC & Webstaurant Talent Engagement Project: Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC)
- Real Jobs Rhode Island – Pipeline to Manufacturing Careers in Shipbuilding: Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training
- Business Friendly Programs: Washington State Employment Security Department
- Registered Apprenticeship (RA) Navigator Program - Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
- Advanced Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship Program - Alabama Department of Labor
- Next Level Jobs - Indiana Department of Workforce Development
- Oklahomans Employer Council Business Service Model - Oklahoma Employment Security Commission
- Employment Services - Targeted Populations
- Back to Work Program: South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce
- Invest in You Too: Utah Workforce Services
- Oakhill Correctional Institution Job Center: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
- Ex Offender Virtual Job Fair: Indiana Department of Workforce Development (2019 Winner – Harris Equal Opportunity Award)
- Real Pathways Rhode Island: Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training
- Second Chance Center: Arizona Department of Economic Security
- Employment Services – Workforce Development
- Empowered Employment: Workforce West Virginia
- WorkIndiana: Indiana Department of Workforce Development
- Employ Georgia online labor exchange: Georgia Department of Labor
- Marshall Plan for Talent: Michigan Talent and Economic Development Department
- Talent for Tomorrow: Missouri Department of Economic Development
- Real Jobs Rhode Island: Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training
- Strategies for Success: Washington Employment Security Department
- Equal Opportunity
- Ex-Offender Virtual Job Fair: Indiana Department of Workforce Development
- Ensuring Equal Opportunity Efforts: Missouri Department of Economic Development
- Real Pathways Rhode Island: Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training
- Equal Opportunity Compliance Department: Texas Workforce Commission
- California EDD Contributions towards Achieving Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination
- Equal Opportunity Officer Team - Washington State Employment Security Department
- Hiring Hoosiers series - Indiana Department of Workforce Development
- Round 7 Youth Disability Employment Initiative - Partners for Youth Career Pathways - Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
- Jaqueline Turner/Hub "No Wrong Door" database - Mississippi Department of Employment Security
- Midwest Equal Opportunity Summit Committee - Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
- EO State Monitoring Guide - South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation
- Assisting Customers with Language Barriers - Utah Department of Workforce Services
- Labor Market Information
- Hoosiers By the Numbers website: Indiana Department of Workforce Development
- Evidence Based Framework for Next Generation Decision makers: Illinois Department of Employment Security
- INDemand Jobs Website: Indiana Department of Workforce Development
- Kentucky Future Skills Report: Kentucky Office of Employment and Training
- MoSCORES Plus Career Exploration Website: Missouri Department of Economic Development
- LMInformer Consortium: Montana Department of Labor with participating states Arkansas, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio and Virginia (2019 Winner - Data Insights and Innovations Award)
- QualityInfo.org Subscription Service – Oregon Employment Department
- WisConomy LMI Web Application: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
- Dynamic Product and Service Delivery using an Agile Framework - Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
- DETR Research & Analysis Bureau Demographic Reporting Enhancements - Nevada Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation
- Alaska Economic Trends Magazine - Alaska
- Registered Apprenticeship in Michigan - Michigan
- TexasLMI.com - Texas
- Washington State Peak Employment Wage and Practices Surveys - Washington
- Work Search Analytics - Wisconsin
- Paid Family Leave
- ReEmployment Services – Workforce Development
- ReEmployment Systems Integration Grant: Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
- Colorado Works Subsidized Training and Employment Program - Colorado Department of Labor & Employment
- Workforce Service Delivery Transition- Idaho Department of Labor
- WIOA Case Management Hub - Mississippi Department of Employment Security
- Become an Alum - Montana Department of Labor and Industry
- Meigs County Super Team - Ohio Department of Job & Family Services
- PA Careerlink and Library Co-location - Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
- Texas Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Integrated Services Initiative - Texas Workforce Commission
- ESD/DVA Military Spouse Listening Sessions and Readout - Washington State Employment Security Department
- Jobs & Hope West Virginia - WorkForce West Virginia
- Innovative Workforce Services Delivery within Correctional Facilities - Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
- State Workforce Regions
- Technology
- UI Benefits Triage Team Pilot: Washington State Employment Security Department
- Interstate Connection Network Relay: Idaho Department of Labor
- Common Unique Identifier Project: New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions
- Paid Family and Medical Leave Technology Platform - Washington State Employment Security Department
- CareerOneStop - Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
- Redesigned Employer Self-Service System - Indiana Department of Workforce Development
- Virtual American Job Center - Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development
- Veterans
