Building Future-Ready State Workforce Systems

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State workforce systems play a critical role in strengthening businesses, creating opportunities for workers, and driving local economic growth. At the same time, they are navigating changing environments, evolving priorities, advancing technology, and expectations to deliver results with greater efficiency. It’s not enough to stay the course — states need clear strategies, coordinated partnerships, and the ability to adapt and lead through change.

AIR partners with leaders and practitioners in state workforce systems to navigate complexity, strengthen programs and services, and align efforts across agencies and partners within the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) landscape and beyond. With experience at the federal, state, and local levels of the public workforce system and a national view of effective and emerging practices, we help states design forward-looking strategies and implement innovative approaches that fit their community-driven needs.
 

Our Approach

Every state’s workforce system is unique—shaped by its economy, policy environment, and partnerships. AIR begins by listening. We engage deeply with workforce leaders, staff, and stakeholders to understand state contexts, priorities, and opportunities.

From there, we work alongside state leaders to design tailored solutions, develop actionable plans, and provide hands-on support through implementation. Whether supporting strategic planning, redesigning service delivery, or facilitating alignment across programs and agencies, we bring a collaborative, systems-level perspective grounded in real-world experience. 
 

What We Do

Our work reflects the priorities of today’s workforce leaders—advancing systems that are structured for accountability, designed for collaboration, and positioned for long-term success.

• Designing collaborative, strategic planning processes. Facilitating partners and stakeholders to shape forward-looking, action-oriented plans that drive progress and reflect shared priorities.
• Modernizing infrastructure and planning. Realigning and strengthening structures and roles that support accountability and compliance, creating a foundation for coordinated strategy, effective execution, and purposeful innovation, aligned with state priorities.
• Advancing sector strategies and employer engagement. Building partnerships that respond to industry needs, aligning workforce training to economic opportunity, and equipping workforce system staff to effectively engage employer customers.
• Redesigning service delivery to expand access and improve outcomes. Reimagining how services are funded, coordinated, and delivered to better meet the needs of workers, businesses, and communities.
• Using data to drive decisions and measure impact. Supporting states in applying data to strengthen accountability, guide investments, shape policy, and inform strategy across workforce system alignment, planning, and service delivery.