Last week, the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) announced that it is launching a digital platform that connects unemployment insurance claimants and jobseekers to help them get employed.
According to a release by Gov. David Ige’s (D-Hawaii) office on June 15, the platform is called the Hawai’i Career Acceleration Navigator (HI CAN) and it is intended on helping Hawaii residents looking for jobs and also those who are transitioning careers. Ige had high praise for the program and said it should help people as the pandemic wanes.
“We’re pioneering a first-of-its-kind data platform to connect job seekers to careers in our post-pandemic economy,” said Ige. “Hawai'i is on the cutting edge, using widely available government data for a user-friendly program that creates highly customized job recommendations.”
The release said that the DLIR is releasing a new functionality allowing claimants to fulfill and digitally track work search requirements through HI CAN. The platform will also help people who are eligible for social services connect to needed programs.
The HI CAN platform is powered through Amazon Web Services and partners with Geographic Solutions to run. It uses Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, state administrative data and cloud computing to create recommendations and job matches.
The platform is through the state of Hawaii, the National Governor’s Association-Workforce Innovation Network and the Partnership with Research Improving People’s Lives (RIPL). It is funded through the National Governor’s Association and Cognizant U.S. foundation grants, allowing HI CAN to build a team that created the platform that is described as “accessible, data-driven and full-service government.”
“We at RIPL are thrilled to support Hawai'i's efforts to incorporate cutting edge information technology to support workforce development. Playing a part in turning the vision Gov. Ige developed with NGA into a reality is an enormous honor for us,” said Scott Jensen, the RIPL CEO and VP of External Affairs.
Anne Perreira-Eustaquio, who is the DLIR director, added that COVID has been difficult, and this platform centralizes services to make bouncing back from the pandemic just a bit easier.
“We are unlocking state data and technology to match and develop worker skills to meet industry needs,” Perreira-Eustaquio said. “At the same time, eligible users can get help without sifting through dozens of government links that can lead to confusion and frustration.”
For more information visit HICAN.hawaii.gov.