Hutchinson To Replace Artee Williams At Workforce Services

Look for a change in leadership at the helm of another state agency as Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson puts his stamp on workforce development.

Arkansas Department of Workforce Services director Artee Williams says he has been told that he will not be retained in his post in the new governor’s administration. Williams was originally appointed DWS director by Gov. Mike Huckabee in March 2004. He was reappointed by Gov. Mike Beebe in 2007.

Hutchinson said throughout the 2014 campaign that he wanted to be the “jobs governor,” and DWS is one of several agencies that impact jobs training and development. The agency also oversees monthly state unemployment data, produces frequent workforce reports, is a conduit for funding for federal jobs programs, and manages the state’s career training centers.

Williams has served as chairman of the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet and currently serves as chairman of the Arkansas Public Employee Retirement System Board of Trustees.

In a press release on Tuesday (Dec. 9), Williams said he “looks forward to spending time with his family, traveling and pursuing other opportunities.”

Williams is a long-time state employee having served in the Clinton, Tucker, Huckabee and Beebe administrations. In addition to DWS, he held posts as Deputy Director of the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) and as State Personnel Administrator in the Department of Finance and Administration.

At DWS, Williams oversaw the implementation of a variety of workforce initiatives including:

• Locating workforce centers on select two-year college campuses;
• Implementing several work-ready certification programs; and
• Developing the state’s Career Pathways program.

He also guided the agency through the economic downturn in the Great Recession, which saw Arkansas borrow hundreds of millions of dollars from the federal government to supplement its unemployment insurance trust fund, which paid benefits to laid-off workers. In October, Arkansas paid off its federal debt from the fund and now sits with a positive balance.

“I appreciate the years of service that Artee Williams has provided as Arkansas Workforce Services director and am grateful for his work during the transition. I look forward to building upon the leadership that Artee established,” said Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson.