At a time when regions rely on accurate, timely, and actionable labor market information, CREC has been at the forefront of modernizing state data infrastructure. Through our leadership of the Labor Market Information (LMI) Institute and partnerships with states across the country, CREC has worked to strengthen how workforce and economic data are collected, shared, and used.
Our efforts focus on three core areas:
- Building capacity for state LMI agencies by providing training, technical assistance, and peer networks.
- Modernizing infrastructure by helping states upgrade outdated systems, adopt cloud-based platforms, and integrate new methodologies for projections and wage data.
- Expanding access by advocating for public use of labor, education, and economic data—ensuring policymakers, employers, and communities can act on trustworthy information.
This work has had national impact. CREC has guided multi-year modernization efforts that resulted in more accurate state and local employment projections, improved occupational data, and better alignment with federal reporting requirements. Through initiatives like the Projections Managing Partnership and Data User Insights Academy, CREC ensures that states have not only the tools but also the expertise to use them effectively.
By strengthening state data ecosystems, CREC helps regions move beyond outdated reporting toward a future where decisions are informed by robust, accessible, and real-time information. The result: more effective workforce planning, smarter policy, and stronger economies.