 <!– |
A Publication of the Labor Market Information Institute
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
Award Nominations Are Now Open!
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
Nominations for the 2026 State Labor Market Information Awards are now open! The LMI Institute awards program recognizes outstanding state LMI research activities that can serve as models for other states. Eligible projects include those in which the nominated state LMI office has played a coordinating role, or in which the office’s research activities have been integral to the project or activity. To be eligible, the project must have started within the last two years (i.e., after January 2024), or may still be ongoing. The three categories for LMI awards are:
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
- Best State LMI Product or Collaboration for Regional Resilience
- Best State LMI Product or Collaboration Supporting the Workforce System or Jobseekers
- Best State LMI Focus on Access to Opportunity
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
Applicants must submit a summary describing the project’s goals, objectives, and innovation via nomination form by Friday, March 27, 2026. Alternative formats (e.g. videos, websites, and interactive dashboards) are encouraged. The LMI Institute will present the awards at the 66th C2ER + LMI Institute Annual Conference held June 17 – 19 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Awardees must register for and attend the conference.
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
Friends of the BLS Statement
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
On February 4th the Friends of the BLS released a statement on the nomination of Brett Matsumoto to serve as the 17th Commissioner of the BLS. The letter lays out the challenges facing the next commissioner and lists the qualities needed to both manage the organization and ensure the public’s continued trust.
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
|
Upcoming Events, Trainings, and Webinars
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
Understanding Opportunity Zones
February 19, 2026
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET
Online Only
|
|
<!– |
<!– |
Data Insights Roundtable: Modernizing State LMI
March 19, 2026
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET
Online Only
|
|
<!– |
<!– |
LMI Institute + 66th C2ER Annual Conference
June 17 – 19, 2026
Memphis, Tennessee
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
|
Insider View – Be in the Know
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
Data User Roundtable:
Modernizing State LMI
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
March 19, 2026
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
Our next Roundtable is being hosted in collaboration with the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) and will highlight opportunities for modernization in the LMI ecosystem and discuss how state/federal agencies and their stakeholders can move these efforts forward. Speakers will include William Beach the 15th commissioner of the BLS. State LMI agencies will walk away with additional ideas and opportunities to connect and collaborate with existing efforts; and data users will have a better understanding of the current challenges and how they can support state LMI agencies in their efforts. We hope to see you there!
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
Understanding Opportunity Zones
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
Join a timely, expert-led conversation focused on how state and regional leaders are responding to the updated Opportunity Zone Program and what those insights mean for policy, planning, and practice.
This webinar brings together four respected voices working at the intersection of economic research, data analysis, and applied regional strategy. These experts will share information about the previous Opportunities Zones iteration, what to expect from 2.0, and how state incentives can shape outcomes.
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
South Bay Workforce Investment Board
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
How can workforce boards stay responsive in fast-changing labor markets? The South Bay Workforce Investment Board offers one approach. Serving southwest Los Angeles County, SBWIB uses pre-apprenticeship pathways, employer-driven design, and real-time labor market data to align training with current demand. Click here to view practical insights for workforce boards facing similar challenges.
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
|
Featured Reports and Tools
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
Hawaii’s Generational Economy Dashboard and Report shows the difference between income and consumption in Hawaii over an individual’s lifetime. Lifecycle deficits (i.e., higher consumption than income) in childhood and old age, as well as lifecycle surpluses in middle age, are demonstrated as well as how resources are reallocated to address these gaps by both public and private means. This deficit funding is projected out to 2060 along with key concerns about providing for both youth and seniors in Hawaii.
Click here to view the dashboard!
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
Iowa’s Career Explorer tool provides local data to allow users to learn about careers in their area. Users can see necessary top skills, typical education needed, average wages, expected annual openings, and similar jobs. It also allows users to compare jobs to one another. The Advanced Exploration provides more granular control, allowing users to input job requirements and explore what job options are available. There is also a tab especially for veterans. Each tab of the visualization is easily downloadable as a PDF, and a guide on how to best use the tool is provided.
Click here to see it yourself!
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
Does your state have a projections dashboard?
Share it with us! We’d love to see it and feature it in the monthly LMI Insider.
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
We welcome your feedback on this edition, and for content suggestions in future editions, of The LMI Insider. Please direct comments, questions, or for more information on the LMI Institute to Marty Romitti, CREC Senior Vice President, at mromitti@crec.net
|
|
<!– |
|
|
| <!– |
To subscribe to the C2ER/LMI Weekly Updates click here
|
|
<!– |
|
|
|
