Ohio Named Recipient of Technology Innovation Award
WASHINGTON – The prestigious Merrill Baumgardner Innovation in Information Technology Award was awarded to the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services (ODJFS) for its Helping the Unemployed Through AI Solutions initiative. The award, presented by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies’ (NASWA) Technology Committee at the 2026 Winter Policy Forum in National Harbor, MD, recognizes states demonstrating excellence and innovation in information technology.
Helping the Unemployed Through AI Solutions is a suite of five innovations that modernize how unemployment services are delivered statewide. These tools—including multilingual virtual assistants, an internal knowledge bot, intelligent document processing, AI powered call quality analysis, and a streamlined adjudication manual—make it faster and easier for staff and claimants to access accurate information and resolve claims.
Together, these solutions have expanded 24/7 multilingual access, automated nearly half of all document indexing, reduced manual workload, and strengthened service consistency through generative AI. This initiative demonstrates Ohio’s leadership in using responsible AI to create a more efficient and user focused unemployment insurance system.
"Ohio’s innovative use of AI demonstrates how technology, when applied responsibly, can expand access, improve accuracy, and elevate the customer experience for workers and families,” NASWA President and CEO Scott B. Sanders said. “We are proud to recognize Ohio for setting a high standard for modernization across the nation’s workforce system."
“I’m proud that the DeWine-Tressel Administration is leading the way in modernizing unemployment services through responsible AI,” said ODJFS Director Matt Damschroder. “These innovations help staff provide better, more consistent service, and make it faster and easier for Ohioans to access the help they need—anytime, in any language.”
For more information, visit NASWA’s Winter Policy Forum and Technology Committee webpages.
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About the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services (jfs.ohio.gov): The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services manages vital programs that strengthen Ohio families. These include job training and employment services, unemployment insurance, cash and food assistance, adult protective services, and child support services.
