MONTGOMERY — Calling it the most comprehensive workforce transformation in state history, Gov. Kay Ivey today announced the launch of the Alabama Department of Workforce.
“Alabama’s workforce is our greatest competitive advantage,” said Ivey. “This unified approach connects individual career advancement to statewide prosperity, ensuring that our human capital drives continued economic growth across all communities.”
Secretary Greg Reed, who leads the new department, said the ADOW’s mission is to remove barriers and create clear pathways connecting people to prosperity through integrated services.
According to a news release, the department consolidates previously fragmented workforce programs under unified leadership, positioning Alabama to address its workforce participation paradox — low unemployment at 2.9% paired with one of the nation’s lowest workforce participation rates at 57.8%.
Of particular focus will be Alabama’s young, disconnected workers aged 20-29 facing the “26 cliff” when they lose healthcare coverage and independence support, the news release said.
“We’re not just fixing problems — we’re building Alabama’s competitive future,” said Reed. “Alabama’s greatest resource is its people, and when they thrive, we all rise. This department represents our commitment to meeting every Alabamian where they are and guiding them to where they want to be.
“We’re meeting people where they are — by making opportunities accessible for all through their own community connections. The department will leverage career centers as local touchpoints, community-based outreach hubs and digital workforce matching systems with tele-case management to serve all counties effectively.”
ADOW’s strategy strives to establish the department as Alabama’s definitive workforce authority, serving as the trusted source for workforce data and regulatory oversight with a 90% focus on workforce services and comprehensive safety standards.
The department functions as a unified workforce catalyst, creating seamless pathways from education to employment through strategic agency alignment and stakeholder unity while eliminating the inefficiencies of previously siloed programs.
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