Grant Funds AI Workforce Review in Two States
A $1.1 million grant will support an 18-month effort by Oklahoma and Virginia to study how artificial intelligence may alter state jobs, required skills and hiring practices. The firms Holly and 17A will work with state agencies, with Holly handling technology and data analysis and 17A focusing on organizational design. The project is intended to produce an open-source tool that other states can use.
The 18-month effort is backed by $1.1 million from the Public Benefit Innovation Fund and the Recoding America Fund. Oklahoma’s central IT office within the Office of Management and Enterprise Services and Virginia’s Department of Administration will take part, with Holly leading data and technology work and 17A handling organizational design.
A planned open-source resource, VOKA, would let states compare job classifications with a public skills library. The partners also intend to publish guidance, templates and review criteria so other states can conduct similar assessments. The project was chosen from more than 300 applicants in the fund’s 2026 spring cohort.
The project could affect state employees, hiring managers, and residents who rely on government services. If AI changes job duties, workers may need new training or revised role definitions, while agencies may adjust hiring and pay practices. The open-source tool may lower costs for other states to examine similar questions, potentially spreading changes in public-sector workforce planning. But outcomes depend on implementation, labor rules, and how agencies use findings.