A Regional and Data-Centered Approach to Workforce Development in an AI Economy

As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes work and the economy faster than conventional training programs can adapt, this chapter offers insights that can be replicated elsewhere for positive economic impact. It offers a replicable, employer informed framework for building AI-ready talent, being piloted by New Jersey's AI Hub—a partnership among the State of New Jersey, Princeton University, Microsoft, and CoreWeave. The chapter argues that an AI-economy workforce strategy must be grounded in regional economic development practices, be coordinated regionally among key stakeholders, addresses the needs for broad AI literacy as well as sector-specific applications, and evolves through continuous feedback loops. AI is advancing at a velocity that can easily outpace the capacity of formal education and training systems to respond.