Blog

  • Apply for the Mobilizing Data for Talent Development Program!

    Apply for the Mobilizing Data for Talent Development Program!

    Applications are open for regional leaders seeking to strengthen post-secondary and career pathways! Funded by the Gates Foundation, the Mobilizing Data for Talent Development program will provide dedicated support to organizations aiming to align talent development systems, enhance regional competitiveness, and invest in K-12, college, and career pathways.

    Working with C2ER and the LMI Institute, participants will gain access to customized regional capacity-building plans, LMI Institute trainings, and exclusive regional convenings—all designed to help you leverage data for smarter workforce and education strategies. Applications are due March 14.

    Who Should Apply?

    State or local economic and workforce development organizations, public or private, as well as educational institutions and training providers are encouraged to apply. Eligible organizations should have a well-defined challenge or opportunity they seek to address through enhanced data-driven decision-making. Those who fill out a complete application will be entered into a raffle to receive a FREE conference registration for this year’s C2ER & LMI Institute Annual Conference May 28 – 30, 2025, in Sacramento, California!

    Why should you participate?

    This initiative isn’t just about data—it’s about driving real change. By joining, you’ll improve post-secondary pathways and tackle regional data gaps. Together, we can use and produce better data, open new pathways to success, and fuel our economic future. Organizations will receive some funding to support this work and attend a regional convening.

    Click here to learn about the program. Have a look at the informational webinar by clicking here. Submit your application here.

    Questions? Email Sarah Edwards.

    Please distribute this post to your networks – we look forward to collaborating with you!

  • Updates on Federal Data Outages

    Updates on Federal Data Outages

    If you’ve been following the news this week, you may be aware of reports that some federal data has become (at least temporarily) inaccessible. We’ve been tracking developments and would like to share our best understanding of how data access has been impacted (if at all) and ongoing efforts/resources to provide alternative access, if needed. 

    Keep in mind that, as with much in Washington D.C. nowadays, any developments are fluid and official information is sparse. We don’t yet know the actual impacts of these changes, and caution should always be used when receiving new information. 

    Removal of datasets published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been one of the highest profile points of impact. Here’s what we know (as of Thursday 2/6 at 1:30pm EST) about some of the data sources most frequently utilized by our members: 

    • Census Bureau: while data.census.gov remains available, access to data files available via Census’ FTP server (including many not available from data.census.gov) was restricted on Tuesday (2/4). Access to some datasets has been restored, although important ones like population estimates as well as ACS microdata are still unavailable. For data that has been restored, impacts on the availability of specific fields are still uncertain. 
    • Bureau of Labor Statistics: we are not currently aware of any loss of access to public BLS data. 
    • National Center for Education Statistics: we are not currently aware of any loss of access to public NCES data. 

    We’d also like to highlight that there are many great efforts underway to archive and preserve federal datasets. Some, such as IPUMS and ICPSR were archiving federal data well before current events, while others have been targeting specific datasets they see as potentially at-risk.  

    Finally, a reminder of other valuable alternatives for accessing public data: 

    • IPUMS – provides extensive microdata from the American Community Survey, Current Population Survey, Census GIS files, American Time Use Survey, and other national and international healthcare/higher education datasets. 
    • FRED – provides free and open-source access to thousands of economic datasets. 

    If you are aware of any changes in the availability of data that we mentioned above, or that you utilize heavily, please let us know. We are here to help answer questions, address concerns, and provide, so please reach out. Otherwise, we will continue to provide updates as we are able. 

  • Insights from the Bipartisan House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence

    Insights from the Bipartisan House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence

    The Bipartisan House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence released a new report designed to provide insights, findings, and recommendations for shaping the U.S. approach to artificial intelligence (AI). 

    Among the recommendations include several that pertain directly to workforce and economic development. The report suggests that federal, state, and local leaders invest in AI literacy and training across all educational levels; help small businesses adopt AI by enhancing their AI literacy and using AI to reduce compliance burdens; and focus on ways to reduce regulatory and data interoperability barriers across sectors such as financial services, agriculture, and more. The report promotes public-private partnerships and federal R&D as two key mechanisms for promoting innovations and enhancing education and workforce programs that develop AI skills. 

    The report highlights the vital role of AI in our economic future and advocates for an agile, incremental approach to policymaking that evolves as AI advances with a fundamental goal of balancing the demands for growth and innovation with responsible application of the new technologies. Congressional leaders are taking AI seriously and attempting to embrace change, and it is incumbent on state and local leaders to follow a similar path. AI will be a foundation for building our next generation economy, but we must also recognize its potential to disrupt our existing economy and our responsibility to anticipate and effectively mitigate that potential disruption. 

  • Strengthening Public Data Infrastructure for a Smarter Tomorrow

    Strengthening Public Data Infrastructure for a Smarter Tomorrow

    Commentary by CREC CEO Ken Poole

    Data is the bedrock of informed decision-making and innovation, and a report from the Council on Competitiveness underscores the urgency of investing in public data and building a regional data infrastructure. The Council on Competitiveness is a national group whose board is comprised of industry CEOs and university presidents, and their past work has been instrumental in key policy national policy initiatives.

    Their most recent report, “Competing in the Next Economy Innovating in the Age of Disruption and Discontinuity,” is the Council’s quadrennial recommendation for action for the new Presidential Administration, reflecting the perspectives of business and academia.

    The Council’s report highlights how innovation thrives when data flows freely to support collaboration. Regional innovation hubs that use shared data to attract investments and drive more all-encompassing growth. By leveraging local data insights, regions can draw funding to support growth initiatives. Shared data networks also ensure that underserved communities have access to information about opportunities in emerging industries.

    The report also highlights a critical need to bolster public data collection agencies. By enhancing these institutions, we can ensure better policy decisions and increased transparency. Robust, accurate, and up-to-date data is essential for creating policies that work. Investing in data infrastructure enables governments to evaluate the impact of innovation investments and streamline pro-growth regulations. Public access to reliable data also fosters trust in government and empowers citizens to hold decision-makers accountable. But data systems must have the resources to deliver on the promise of reliable, accurate, and up-to-date data.

    This is also the first time that investments in the public data system has ever been included as a key Council priority, and I am happy to see it. As someone who served on the Regional Innovation working group, participating in several working sessions with key subject matter experts from across the country, and as someone who has spent more than three decades advocating for public data and building a regional data infrastructure, I wholeheartedly concur with the need for more robust public data. Having access to accurate, timely data gives decisionmakers the information they need to make critical decisions which reverberate throughout the country. The only alternative to data is guesswork which is, at best, a risk to regional growth, as well as our national competitiveness.

  • Natcast Announces Sandra Watson as Inaugural Member of National Semiconductor Technology Center Workforce Advisory Board

    Natcast Announces Sandra Watson as Inaugural Member of National Semiconductor Technology Center Workforce Advisory Board

    Natcast, the non-profit entity designated by the Department of Commerce to operate the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) established by the CHIPS and Science Act, announced the selection of SEDE Chair and Arizona Commerce Authority President Sandra Watson as one of 18 inaugural members of the NSTC Workforce Advisory Board (WFAB).

    WFAB members represent U.S. leaders in companies, higher education, and public or nonprofit intermediary organizations who have a common interest in growing the semiconductor workforce. According to the announcement, the WFAB will advise the recently established NSTC Workforce Center of Excellence (WCoE) and help to provide input for national and regional WCoE-initiated workforce development strategies that meet “real-time industry challenges.”

    In addition to being SEDE Chair, Watson is long-time economic development professional with leadership experience in business attraction and expansion, innovation, entrepreneurship, economic policy, and workforce development.

  • Implementing the WIAC’s Recommendations Would Transform Workforce Data for State and Regional Action

    Implementing the WIAC’s Recommendations Would Transform Workforce Data for State and Regional Action

    In late November, the Workforce Information Advisory Commission (WIAC) released their recommendations to improve the Workforce and Labor Market Information System for data users. These recommendations represent a pivotal opportunity to reshape the way we understand and respond to the complexities of our workforce and labor markets. For years, workforce development practitioners, economic developers, and data users alike have grappled with an outdated and fragmented Workforce and Labor Market Information (WLMI) system that struggles to deliver the localized, timely, and actionable insights necessary for informed decision-making. WIAC’s vision adopts the principles of adaptability, inclusiveness, and innovation that are essential for thriving in the 21st century economy.

    At the heart of WIAC’s recommendations is the commitment to providing localized and actionable data—the lifeblood of effective workforce and economic development. Today’s professionals need data that reflects the nuances of their communities and regions, not generalized national trends. Businesses deciding where to locate, workers choosing training programs, and policymakers crafting legislation all benefit from more granular insights into skills demands, job growth, and economic trends. WIAC’s proposal to leverage new data sources and enhance the National Labor Exchange (NLx) is a transformative step toward closing these information gaps and ensuring local leaders have the tools they need to act decisively.

    Equally significant is WIAC’s focus on timeliness and accessibility. Economic and workforce development are fast-moving in this information age. Outdated data render well-intentioned strategies ineffective. Real-time, machine-readable data using enhanced APIs and greater federal-state-local collaboration in data sharing can help break down barriers to data access, according to the WIAC, if well intentioned. Digitizing data and expanding its access can empower data users to respond more swiftly to market changes and offer insights for many smaller organizations and communities that previously were making subjective, data-free policy decisions.

    Finally, WIAC’s call for collaboration and innovation is a game-changer. By promoting open-source solutions and sharing best practices across states and regions, the recommendations create a culture of shared progress. This collaborative model aligns perfectly with the values of economic and workforce development practitioners, who understand the power of partnership in driving success. When one community develops an effective tool or strategy, others should have the ability to adapt it to meet their unique challenges, amplifying its impact across the country.

    WIAC’s recommendations aren’t just about fixing what’s broken, they’re about reimagining what’s possible. If we think differently, we use our limited resources in new and more productive ways. The WIAC offers a new vision for a workforce data system that is responsive, inclusive, and ready to meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy. For economic and workforce development professionals, this is a call to action to become more active in transforming the WLMI system to ensure it is meeting the needs of citizens, businesses, and government alike—those for whom these data are intended.

     

  • WHITE PAPER: AI’s Impact on Regional Economic Development

    AI and regional economies

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming regional economic landscapes, bringing both significant opportunities and challenges. A new white paper by the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) examines how AI is not only reshaping economies, but how it could transform the practice of economic development. The white paper emphasizes the need for policymakers and practitioners to embrace a few strategic approaches to leverage AI’s potential while addressing its risks to the work that economic developers do.

    Opportunities and Challenges of AI Integration

    AI offers numerous benefits for regional economies, such as boosting productivity, fostering innovation, and supporting economic diversification. It can also help refine economic development strategies to identify emerging industry clusters, optimize supply chains, and enhance workforce training programs. Economic developers should also consider how AI could streamline licensing and permitting, reduce administrative burdens for companies, and increase transparency in how government uses tax dollars. Even so, automation of many administrative and basic research tasks will displace jobs, especially in activities that involve routine tasks. This could widen economic disparities. So, economic development practice will require proactive measures to reskill workers and build ethical practices to govern AI implementation.

    Practical Applications in Regional Development

    Economic development agencies should use AI to improve their program outcomes by analyzing growth patterns and identifying high-potential businesses. Rural areas can benefit from AI to optimize agricultural practices or stabilize existing businesses. When used to review and refine tax incentives and streamline regulatory processes, AI can make economic development programs more effective and impactful.

    Balancing Innovation with Inclusive Growth

    As AI advances, it is crucial for economic development professionals consider both its impacts on the adoption of innovation as well as its impact on workforce inclusion. Integrating AI responsibly in our economic development work and our understanding of our economies are changing can position regions for sustainable growth, fostering competitive advantages and building resilient, future-ready communities. But, we must take proactive action to incorporate AI into our industries and the day-to-day work of economic development practitioners and not wait for someone to tell us what to do.

    To read more about these insights and strategic recommendations, download our white paper (PDF) on the opportunities and risks associated with AI.

    White Paper: AI Impact on Regional Economic Development

  • BEA Stopped Producing County Employment Data by Industry to Everyone’s Detriment

    BEA Stopped Producing County Employment Data by Industry to Everyone’s Detriment

    Over the past two decades, BEA has sought to engage with local economic data users, providing insights about the GDP at the state and county level – helping counties and regions better understand how well they are performing economically. These data have also allowed local leaders to understand their gig economy and entrepreneurial behavior through measures of self-employment as well as offering an understanding of which sectors rely most on self-employed workers. 

    For example, several years ago, CREC studied the Nashville area workforce. In a particularly poignant example during this week of the Country Music Awards, our wage data didn’t really find much about the music industry. But we knew from anecdotal evidence that it was important.  A look at BEA self-employed-by-industry data revealed a huge concentration of musicians and songwriters in the region. We learned from BEA that a very large share of people working in this industry are gig workers – not salaried or hourly employees. However, with the loss of the BEA data on self-employed by industry, this unique fact will be lost, and employment trends for this important segment of the Nashville economy will be much harder to find in the public data.

    We know why BEA made the decision to stop producing county employment data by industry: they simply no longer had the resources to do the work. The implications will be to reduce the quality of all employment data available from public and private sources alike, which will have wide-ranging implications for many of us who depend on this data to make smarter workforce and economic development decisions. For that, we are truly disappointed.

  • Five Steps to Address Regional Workforce Challenges Surrounding the Substance Use Disorder Crisis

    Five Steps to Address Regional Workforce Challenges Surrounding the Substance Use Disorder Crisis

    Substance Use Disorder (SUD) has impacted nearly every community across the United States. Few regions, however, have felt the brunt of this impact as strongly as Appalachia. According to our partners at the Appalachia Regional Commission, overdose-related mortality rates for people ages 25–54 in 2021 was 72 percent higher in Appalachia than the rest of the country.

    To address the SUD crisis, the ARC hired CREC (through its Development District Association of Appalachia network) to create a Recovery to Work Ecosystem Builder’s Guide. This innovative guide helps LDDs and various stakeholders develop holistic support systems to address preparation for employment, housing, and transportation needs for individuals in recovery.

     There are five phases in building an ecosystem for your region:

    1. Defining Your Ecosystem: collaboration is critical in building effective recovery-to-work ecosystems. By bringing together diverse organizations and services, ecosystem champions can better support individuals in recovery from substance use disorder, underscoring the need for strategic planning and leadership to create strong regional ecosystems.
    2. Getting Organized: move from vision to action in organizing regional stakeholders for a comprehensive recovery-to-work ecosystem. After initial connections with other organizations, convene a broader group to identify gaps and collaboration opportunities within the regional ecosystem. By addressing these issues early on, you can lay the groundwork for effective engagement with employers and other key stakeholders.
    3. Preparing People and Companies: shift the focus to understanding the needs of both job-seeking individuals in recovery and employers in the region. By collaborating with ecosystem partners, practitioners should aim to identify candidates for employment and facilitate connections with suitable job opportunities. Engage in discussions with companies about hiring individuals in recovery prompts ideas for enhancing workplace support and policies.
    4. Support Continued Success: sustaining long-term success requires comprehensive support. Research highlights the strong correlation between employment and recovery outcomes, emphasizing the need for integrated services. Expanding partnerships becomes imperative to address these needs, especially in rural areas, emphasizing the collaborative effort required for long-term success.
    5. Sustainability: the focus now shifts to ensuring sustainability within the recovery-to-work ecosystem. Regular meetings of ecosystem champions can serve as a platform to identify gaps, explore opportunities, and discuss strategies for long-term viability. It’s crucial to leverage both local and external resources, including government entities, foundations, businesses, and educational institutions, to sustain ongoing efforts.

    By leveraging the ARC’s Recovery to Work Builder’s Guide, you can start creating and sustaining an ecosystem that values all your citizens and creates a more prosperous future for your region.

    If you want to learn how your region can tackle its complex workforce and economic development challenges, email Brendan Buff, Director of Rural Development, at bbuff@crec.net.

  • How Arizona Is Boosting its Semiconductor Advantage

    How Arizona Is Boosting its Semiconductor Advantage

    The semiconductor industry, and its entire value chain, is critical for US national security and economic competitiveness. Currently, Arizona is primed to boost its leadership in this sector given their existing footprint in semiconductor research, design, and production stretching across the state.

    To build on Arizona’s existing strategic advantage, the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) hired CREC and SRI to understand how innovative facilities and training opportunities statewide can advance Arizona’s leading position in the semiconductor industry.

    Kolu Wilson, Chief Workforce Officer for ACA, said the comprehensive inventory of education and training assets helped ACA take advantage of immediate opportunities to develop these assets. “CREC and SRI’s detailed report came at the exact right time. Thanks to their work, we can now fortify Arizona’s strategic advantage in this mission-critical sector with training and education partners.”

    The semiconductor and microelectronics ecosystem in Arizona is supported by 630 unique assets, including 90 education and training providers, including post-secondary institutions, career and technical education districts, and private training providers. In addition to highlighting important R&D specializations at four-year universities, the team identified a critical role for community colleges and CTE programming in strengthening collaboration statewide.

    CREC partnered with tech-based economic and workforce development strategists in SRI’s Center for Innovation Strategy and Policy to produce the inventory and accompanying report. By taking a holistic look at the semiconductor education and training assets in the state, Arizona is better positioned than ever to leverage their existing advantage in the sector and understand what data sets are required to make strategic long-term decisions.

    For more information about analyzing industry sectors and regional economic activity, contact Allison Forbes at aforbes@crec.net.