HELENA\u2014Montana Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Sarah Swanson has been elected chair-elect of the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, giving Montana a leadership role in a national organization representing workforce agencies across the country.<\/p>\n
Swanson assumed the position Sept. 17 during NASWA\u2019s annual membership meeting at the 2026 NASWA Summit. The chair-elect serves on the organization\u2019s five-member executive committee and is expected to become chair during the following association year.<\/p>\n
NASWA represents workforce agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and three U.S. territories. The organization works on employment and training programs, unemployment insurance, labor-market information and other workforce issues.<\/p>\n
As chair-elect, Swanson will help guide the association\u2019s board as it works to strengthen collaboration among states and develop policies affecting workers, job seekers and employers.<\/p>\n
Swanson joins workforce leaders from Missouri, Ohio, Massachusetts and Washington on NASWA\u2019s executive committee.<\/p>\n
Her election comes as Montana works to restructure and modernize its workforce-development system. Swanson has been involved in Gov. Greg Gianforte\u2019s 406 JOBS initiative, which seeks to strengthen connections among education, job training, employers and economic-development programs.<\/p>\n
The state has also emphasized reducing unemployment-insurance fraud, changing occupational-licensing requirements and expanding pathways from education and training into the workforce.<\/p>\n
Swanson said the national position will give Montana an opportunity to share its workforce-development efforts with other states while learning from programs being implemented elsewhere.<\/p>\n
Before being appointed labor commissioner, Swanson worked in economic and workforce development and has been involved in efforts to connect employers with training and education programs.<\/p>\n
Her new NASWA position will place her in national discussions over how states respond to changing labor markets, employer workforce needs and the development of new approaches to job training.<\/p>\n