Ahead of our signature 2025 Talent Forward event, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation hosted a dynamic pre-conference event, Digital Transformation in Learning and Work. The gathering brought together state officials, policymakers, and education and business leaders from across the country to explore a pressing question: How can digital tools transform our approach to skills development and hiring in an increasingly competitive global landscape?
Making Skills Visible and Portable
Digital transformation—the adoption of digital systems and tools to improve how organizations operate, create, and deliver value—is reshaping talent acquisition. Learning and Employment Records (LERs) serve as a backbone for this transformation, allowing workers, students, and job seekers to gather all of their skills and competencies in one place to show what they know and can do.
The U.S. Chamber Foundation's T3 Innovation Network unites stakeholders invested in skills development for collective action across industries. As Taylor Hansen, executive director at the U.S. Chamber Foundation and T3 Innovation Network lead puts it, "Digital transformation is not just about the tools, but it's about the data and the people."
LERs provide job seekers a comprehensive view of their capabilities and offer employers a more detailed, verifiable picture of candidates' qualifications. Technology becomes more than a tool—it's a vehicle to opportunity.
U.S. Chamber Foundation Senior Vice President, Jason Tyszko, delivers remarks at the 2025 Talent Forward pre-conference, Digital Transformation in Learning and Work, at U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Congressman Burgess Owens (R-UT-4) gives a keynote address at Digital Transformation in Learning and Work.
Sytease Geib and Amanda Winters of the National Governors Association lead a conversation on how digital transformation and data can enable skills-based strategies.
Lauren Runco Bevilacqua of Solid, Inc. speaks on the panel "Better Data: Jobs, Employment, and Learning" at the 2025 Talent Forward pre-conference event.
Experts from Western Governors University and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce discuss innovative tools and strategies for digital transformation in education and workforce development.
Chamber Foundation Executive Director Taylor Hansen provides a recap of the insights from day one of the pre-conference, setting the stage for day two and Talent Forward.
Sharon Leu, Executive in Resident at JFF Labs gives a "Talent Talk."
Chamber Foundation Vice President Peter Beard introduces our newest big idea, Skill Savings Accounts.
Western Governors University's Scott Pulsipher gives a keynote address to wrap the Digital Transformation in Learning and Work event.
Solutions in Action
The pre-conference event showcased real solutions being implemented nationwide:
- In Arkansas, Mike Rogers, chief workforce officer for the state, highlighted their "digital twin" approach that captures dimensions beyond credentials—from demonstrated soft skills to transportation needs—creating comprehensive talent profiles that reflect the whole person.
- According to the National Governors Association's (NGA) February 2025 report, Delaware's removal of unnecessary degree requirements led to a 575% increase in applicants for Family Service Specialist positions, expanding opportunity while meeting crucial workforce needs.
- Lauren Ronco Bevilacqua from Solid, Inc. shared a recent breakthrough in making joint service transcripts directly accessible in their platform, translating military experience into skills language that civilian employers and higher education institutions can understand, honoring experience gained outside traditional pathways.
These solutions highlight how digital transformation, when done right, centers on human needs while addressing systemic challenges.
Building Trust Through Collaboration
Skills-based approaches require employers to trust the validity of skills obtained through different pathways. This demands completeness, compatibility, and trust and foundations built through collaborative efforts.
States are already engaging industry directly to validate skills. Alabama, for instance, has aligned employers around "ready-to-work skills," positioning competencies as the primary currency in the labor market. NGA emphasized the importance of high-quality data as a prerequisite for effective AI integration, encouraging investments in data modernization.
A Skills-First Future
The discussions revealed a critical imperative: improved data infrastructure is essential for maintaining economic advantages. American institutions must overcome siloed approaches to create compatible systems that speak the language of skills rather than just credentials.
This systemic transformation is ultimately about recognizing individual potential beyond traditional metrics as aptly noted in President of Western Governors University, Scott Pulsipher’s keynote.
Breakout sessions brought these insights into focus, showcasing innovative tools like the Achievement Wallet in Indiana, which enables learners to capture and share validated skills beyond traditional transcripts. A closing session unveiled the U.S. Chamber Foundation's next big idea: Skill Savings Accounts—a portable, flexible approach that allows workers, employers, and others to contribute to upskilling opportunities.
These tools represent more than technological solutions—they are practical pathways to transforming how we understand, validate, and connect human potential with opportunity. The hands-on nature of the sessions underscored a pivotal shift from theoretical discussions to actionable, measurable strategies for workforce development.
The Competitive Advantage of Skills
As discussions continue about adoption networks, new ideas, and further digital transformation strategies, the message is clear: The digital transformation of America's approach to skills and hiring isn't just desirable—it's essential for maintaining economic leadership.
States, businesses, and education providers that miss the opportunity to embrace these changes risk being left behind in an increasingly competitive global talent marketplace. The collaborative nature of this work remains challenging but necessary. As digital tools continue to evolve, stakeholders must ensure America's workforce systems remain competitive, responsive, and aligned with both employer needs and worker aspirations in the digital age.
About the authors
Sydney Lewis
Sydney Lewis is associate communications manager at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
