Montana Executive Order Boosts AI Workforce Readiness
Montana is taking a proactive stance on artificial intelligence integration within its workforce, as Governor Greg Gianforte recently signed an executive order aimed at leveraging AI to boost employment and economic development across the state. This move positions Montana alongside other states and federal initiatives that increasingly recognize AI’s potential to connect job seekers with opportunities, despite ongoing discussions about mitigating algorithmic bias.
Designated as Executive Order 5-2025, the directive establishes the “406 JOBS” initiative, an ambitious framework designed to align state workforce development strategies with federal employment and AI objectives. The initiative’s name, signifying “Four Pathways to Employment, Zero Barriers to Work, and Six High Demand Sectors,” underscores a comprehensive approach. Highlighting the urgency, Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) Commissioner Sarah Swanson noted a recent DLI report indicating that over 100,000 working-age Montanans are currently neither employed nor actively seeking work. Swanson emphasized that the new initiative could be crucial in connecting these residents to “meaningful work.”
The order mandates a collaborative effort among several key state entities, including the DLI, the Office of Public Instruction, the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, the Montana University System, and the Department of Commerce. This multi-agency approach is critical, particularly given estimates that up to 30 percent of U.S. jobs could face automation by 2030, necessitating a prepared workforce.
A primary focus of these collective efforts is education. The order compels these entities to significantly expand opportunities for Montanans to acquire skills in AI technologies, reflecting a broader national trend toward enhancing AI literacy. Furthermore, it prioritizes professional development for educators, aiming to bridge existing knowledge gaps and equip them to integrate AI skills development into career-readiness instruction.
Concurrently, the initiative targets the workforce directly. State agencies are directed to identify and implement AI tools that can assist job seekers in navigating career options, accessing relevant training, and securing employment. The order also emphasizes integrating AI readiness into existing talent development programs, ensuring that Montana’s workforce is prepared for the evolving demands of the job market.
Beyond public sector efforts, the executive order stresses the importance of partnering with industry. This includes providing support to small businesses, both in upskilling their existing workforce and in adopting AI technologies for more efficient operations. The order also calls for fostering public-private partnerships to accelerate AI workforce development across key sectors. These sectors, likely those prioritized within the 406 JOBS framework, include healthcare, construction, hospitality and recreation, advanced manufacturing and computing, education and childcare, and financial and professional services.
This executive order builds upon earlier state legislation enacted this year, specifically House Bills 449, 656, and 823, which sought to reform Montana’s workforce and education systems by improving access to training opportunities. Commissioner Swanson articulated the broader vision during a press conference, stating that the 406 JOBS initiative positions Montana as a national leader in workforce development by “embracing technology, requiring agencies to work better together, and asking actual employers to chart our path forward rather than assuming government has all the answers.”
To ensure swift implementation, the order directs the Montana State Workforce Innovation Board to collaborate with relevant agencies. Their immediate task is to develop an initial written report for the governor within 90 days, outlining recommendations for a statewide implementation strategy for the initiative’s first year.