FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 16, 2026: 

How to Increase Alabama’s Workforce Participation Rate: A Practical Path Forward

By: Nicole Jones Wadsworth, PhD, MBA, MS; Candidate for Lt. Governor of Alabama

Alabama’s workforce participation challenge stems primarily from a disconnect between individuals and available employment opportunities. Too many able-bodied, working-age adults remain outside the labor force. We need to examine the structural barriers, misaligned incentives, and limited access points that keep them on the sidelines. If our state is serious about long-term economic growth, collectively we must focus less on job creation alone and more on bringing able-bodied people back into the workforce in a sustainable, dignified way. When I look at a client's balance sheet, human resources is the most expensive cost. Companies want to ensure they have a quality and skilled workforce before making a long-term investment. Let's collaborate and get Alabamians back to work. 

The first priority to increase workforce participation should be expanding clear, accessible entry points into work for populations that have historically been overlooked, which includes individuals reentering society after incarceration, young adults who are disconnected from both school and employment, and adults whose work histories have been interrupted. These groups represent a significant share of untapped labor potential. Alabama should strengthen partnerships between employers and education providers to ensure business and education are consistently communicating and responding to workforce needs. We must build stronger collaboration with our high schools, trade schools, community colleges, and universities so that individuals are not left guessing about their next step, but instead placed on clear, structured pathways to employment.

At the same time, Alabama must examine how public assistance programs interact with work. In too many cases, individuals face a steep “benefits cliff,” where accepting a job or increasing hours leads to a sudden loss of childcare, healthcare, or housing support. This scenario creates a rational disincentive to reenter the workforce or pursue advancement. In other words, folks believe they are better off financially to stay at home and continue government assistance. The welfare cycle then continues. Reforming these systems to allow for gradual phase-outs of benefits, rather than abrupt cutoffs, would remove one of the most significant hidden barriers to participation.

We also have a responsibility to better support our warfighters as they return home from deployment. Their skills, discipline, and leadership are valuable assets to Alabama’s economy, but too often there is a gap in translating military experience into civilian employment. Since approximately one out of ten Alabamians have served in the military, our state should lead and take a more coordinated role, from the federal level down to local workforce systems, to ensure veterans receive effective job placement support and a clear pathway into meaningful careers.

Childcare and transportation remain two of the most practical constraints on workforce engagement, particularly in rural areas and among low- to moderate-income households. Without reliable childcare, many parents, especially women, are effectively excluded from the labor market. Similarly, in areas with limited public transit, a lack of dependable transportation can make steady employment impossible. The expansion of access to affordable childcare and support for flexible, locally tailored transportation solutions would have an immediate and measurable impact on participation rates.

Another critical opportunity lies in engaging older workers and those nearing retirement. Many seasoned Alabamians are willing and able to continue working but may not be interested in traditional full-time roles. Encouraging flexible work arrangements, part-time opportunities, and phased retirement options would allow employers to retain experienced talent while increasing overall labor force participation.

Finally, Alabama should recognize the important role that community-based institutions, including nonprofits, workforce development organizations, and faith-based groups, already play in connecting individuals to work. These organizations often have relationships and trust within communities that state systems alone cannot replicate. By formally integrating them into workforce strategies and providing targeted support, our state can extend its reach into populations that are otherwise difficult to engage.

Increasing workforce participation is a coordination problem. It requires aligning incentives, removing friction, and meeting people where they are at. Alabama has the economic momentum to grow, but unlocking its full potential will depend on whether it can bring more of its people into that growth.

When Alabamians are working, we all benefit. It keeps people off welfare, reduces recidivism, and gives a man or a woman a sense of purpose by being able to pay for something with a paycheck he or she has earned. As Lieutenant Governor, I will work to ensure every Alabamian—from the high school student to the veteran—has a clear path to a good-paying job. Together, we can Build a Better Alabama.

 

Nicole Jones Wadsworth is a career site selector and commercial real estate developer and a Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Alabama.