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.

2024 - 2025 Association Year Workforce Innovation Award Nominees

Select the links below to view the nominees' submissions. * = Award winner

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 Workforce Supply & Demand Dashboard Initiative - California Labor and Workforce Development Agency - Employment Development Department*
- Capital Workforce Intelligence Hub - District of Columbia Department of Employment Services
- UIA Economic Dashboard Initiative - Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity - Unemployment Insurance Agency
- Montana Teacher Compensation Report - Montana Department of Labor & Industry
- Using HMDA Data for Insights & Training in Data Analysis - Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation
- MyCareerNJ - New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- North Carolina Reentry Outcome Reporting System (NC RORS) - North Carolina Department of Commerce
- Ohio’s Inflow-Outflow Dashboard - Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
- Explore SC@Work - South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce
- Building an Unemployment Insurance Equity Grant Adverse Impacts Team Initiative - Washington State Employment Security Department
Merrill Baumgardner Innovation in Information Technology Award | This award honors a state demonstrating excellence in the field of information technology.
- myEDD Unified Customer Portal - California Labor and Workforce Development Agency - Employment Development Department
- EmployMT – Montana’s Workforce Case Management System - Montana Department of Labor and Industry
- UI Cyberfraud Prevention Solution & UI Claims Management System (ClaIMS) - New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development*
- UI Conversational AI Virtual Assistants - Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
- Frances – Oregon’s Combined Benefits System - Oregon Employment Department
- Modern System for UI Benefits and Appeals - Tennessee Department of Labor and 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.
- Teacher Externship Program - Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
- Employer Help Center - Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity - Unemployment Insurance Agency
- Employer Self Service - Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation
- Teacher Apprenticeship Program - South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation*
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.
- ADOL and ABPP – Day Report Center - Alabama Department of Labor
- Maryland Works for Wind - Maryland Department of Labor*
- Young Professionals Initiative - Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity
- Growing Apprenticeship in Nontraditional Sectors (GAINS) - New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- MC3 Pre-Apprenticeship Program - New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions
- OhioMeansJobs Center Services Dashboard - Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
- RESEA GiT:JOBs (Goal in Texas: Jobs Over Benefits) - Texas Workforce Commission
- Career Connect Washington - Washington State Employment Security Department
- Year of the Worker State Accomplishments - Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
- Virtual Training Series - 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 Office Initiative for Equitable and Inclusive Services - California Labor and Workforce Development Agency - Employment Development Department
- Colorado State Accessibility Law – Division of Labor Standards and Statistics Labor Market Information (LMI) Action Plan/Remediation Project - Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
- The HBCU Public Service Program - District of Columbia Department of Employment Services
- Language Access & Equity Initiative - Illinois Department of Employment Security
- Expanded Online Coaching Sessions - Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity - Unemployment Insurance Agency
- Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund (ERAF) - Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development*
- DLI Office of the Tribal Liaison - Montana Department of Labor and Industry
- Language Access Initiative - New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- Bridges to Employment: Fostering Diversity and Economic Mobility in New Mexico - New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions
- Employment Status Dashboard - Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
- The Frances System - Oregon Employment Department
- Economic Security for All (EcSA) - Washington State Employment Security Department
- Worker Exploitation Initiative - Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development