The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced its collaboration with Google Public Sector to continue to accelerate improvements to its Unemployment Insurance (UI) system.
Together with Google Public Sector, DWD will transform its UI system to a modern, cloud-based platform. DWD’s existing legacy system, based on 1970s-era COBOL technology, will be reconstructed using Google Cloud technology to improve the unemployment insurance claim experience, accelerate code development, and deliver performance features that increase productivity for agency staff while better supporting the Wisconsin workforce. These changes align with the U.S. Department of Labor’s (U.S. DOL) preferred strategy for states to modernize their UI systems and build on DWD’s digital transformation efforts.
In addition to better serving UI claimants, the future UI system will feature a new employer portal to address technical limitations of the current system and expand opportunities for communication between employers and DWD. Developed by Google Public Sector, the modern employer portal will enhance efficiency for employers to complete tax and wage reporting, respond to UI claims verification requests, support appeal activities, and improve document sharing in a secure environment.
This collaboration builds on DWD’s ongoing partnership using Google Cloud Infrastructure to clear a backlog of claims that overwhelmed the outdated mainframe system at the peak of COVID-19. DWD’s AI tool eliminated the backlog in a matter of weeks, with human-in-the-loop methodology that allowed DWD staff members to further evaluate claims that did not appear to be eligible for payment. The approach achieved timely delivery of benefits to those in need.
