Alabama Workforce Council

The Alabama Workforce Council was formed in 2015 as an employer-led statewide effort to understand the structure, function, organization and perception of the Alabama workforce system.

The result of the survey, focus groups and research performed by the AWC showed that while Alabama has abundant educational, state, business support, training and other resources for the employer, student and job-seeker, they were not aligned and united in the ultimate goal of connecting the qualified worker with prospective employer.

In 2016, the Council officially launched as the AlabamaWorks! brand that is used to showcase these endeavors at all levels, particularly locally within the state’s seven workforce regions.

AlabamaWorks! stands for opportunity, innovation, accountability and inclusion with the vision of a better future for Alabamians, our state and our economy.

Partners include the Alabama Department of Labor, AIDT, the Alabama Community College System, the Alabama Technology Network, the K-12 System and the Career Centers.

The most important accomplishment of the Council has been to open the doors of communications between public and private entities. Previously, businesses and the education sector worked within silos, even though their goals were the same. This success evidenced by the creation and adoption of business-driven courses, credentials and certifications that employees need to excel in the workplace.

Now that the dialogue has been opened, the Council has progressed the AlabamaWorks! movement to AlabamaWorks! Success Plus, which was formally launched by Governor Ivey earlier this year.

AlabamaWorks! Success Plus is a structured path for our state to add an additional 500,000 credentialed workers by 2025.