Data-Driven Strategies for Human Capital Optimization | Human Capital Strategies
A skilled workforce is essential for sustained industry and organizational success, driving innovation, productivity, and resilience. At AIR, we leverage best practices, proven strategies, and insights from applied research to make economic opportunity more accessible for everyone.
At an occupational level, our work on identifying and removing unnecessary licensing barriers helps state agencies, regulatory bodies, and occupational licensing agencies build a more robust talent pipeline, improve employment opportunities, and create regulations that protect the public without hindering professional growth.
We work with our clients to build and sustain a future-ready workforce. By developing and implementing validated selection processes, we help clients to identify and hire the most qualified talent from the start. We implement targeted strategies that address and mitigate the factors driving employee attrition, ensuring they not only attract but also retain the most valuable talent.
Our Projects
Occupational Licensing Policy Learning Consortium Case Studies
AIR worked with the National Conference for State Legislatures and its partner organizations, the Council of State Governments and the National Governors Association's Center for Best Practices, to conduct case studies of 11 different states that undertook efforts to review their licensing practices. We focused on processes, successes, challenges and impact of efforts to reduce occupational licensing barriers across a variety of occupations and populations. Our case studies provide important insight into factors that facilitated or hindered success within licensure efforts.
Economic Mobility and Opportunity for Licensed Occupations in Nevada
Nevada Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation partnered with us to reexamine the occupational licensing state requirements with a focus on improving service to dislocated workers, transitioning service members, and veterans. AIR analyzed existing occupational license requirements and compared these requirements with those in other states. As part of this work, our team developed Occupational Licensing Difficulty Scores informed by key data elements that contribute to the difficulty of obtaining and maintaining a license.
Examination of Licensing Issues for Professional Beauty Association
Professional Beauty Association partnered with us to address the beauty industry’s issue of inconsistent licensing requirements across states. We examined the extent to which state licensing requirements impact educational, employment, and industry outcomes. We prepared a report with detailed findings on the relationship between curriculum hours and education outcomes and recommendations for the beauty industry moving forward. The report informed licensing requirements for the beauty industry in multiple states.
Enhancing Election Workforce: Addressing Recruitment and Retention Challenges
Funded by a nonpartisan grant, AIR conducted a mixed-methods study to explore key challenges to recruiting and retaining a diverse, skilled election administration workforce. We provided a roadmap of recommendations to help professionalize the workforce and address critical hiring and retention challenges.
Selection and Retention Strategies for the Electrical Industry
Since 1992, AIR has worked with the electrical training ALLIANCE to develop, validate, and maintain their apprentice selection procedures. We also identify factors that affect the retention of apprentices and training program directors.
