Arkansas Launch is a new online platform designed to connect Arkansans with high-demand, high-paying jobs. The website, jobseeker.launch.arkansas.gov, acts as a centralized hub for individuals looking to upskill, reskill, or take the next step in their career.
“Arkansas Launch is about removing barriers and making sure every Arkansan has a path to success," Governor Sanders said during the site's launch event in Benton.
The development of the platform is part of a broader effort to modernize Arkansas’s workforce strategy, one that aligns with Governor Sanders’ vision for economic growth and opportunity. Developed in collaboration with state agencies and local partners, Arkansas Launch brings together education, training, and employment resources in a user-friendly digital interface.
Users can explore training programs, career pathways, and job listings tailored to their region and interests. Whether someone is entering the workforce for the first time, changing careers, or returning after incarceration or a layoff, the site provides curated tools and support to help them succeed.
Mike Rogers, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Commerce, described the site as a way to better match talent with employer needs.
“We’re taking a skills-based approach that prioritizes people over paper qualifications. It’s about what you can do, not just what’s on your résumé,” Rogers said.
He also highlighted how Arkansas Launch represents a major shift in how government supports individuals.
“Our government has been serving pieces of people,” said Rogers. “Fingers, toes, knees, elbows—but not the whole person.” LAUNCH changes that. Through a “six-clicks-to-solutions” design, users can build personal profiles, receive curated job recommendations, connect to local services like transportation and childcare, and even demonstrate skills for employers through competency-based credentials.
A key feature of Arkansas Launch is its commitment to accessibility and inclusion. It provides specialized resources for veterans, individuals with disabilities, justice-involved citizens, and those impacted by layoffs. The platform also includes connections to supportive services—like child care assistance and transportation help—that are critical for workforce participation.
“We’re not just building a website—we’re building a support system,” Rogers noted. “Arkansas Launch is about meeting people where they are and helping them move forward.”
The platform reflects a growing recognition that workforce development is not just about filling jobs—it's about building lives, stabilizing families, and lifting entire communities. By integrating career planning with real-world data and human-centered design, Arkansas Launch aims to create a more equitable and agile labor market.
“We’re not just building a website—we’re building a support system,”
Mike Rogers
Arkansas Launch offers a proactive solution to employment barriers. By simplifying the path to employment and connecting Arkansans with the training they need, the state is investing in its most valuable asset—its people.
“Whether you're a high school student, a parent returning to the workforce, or someone looking for a fresh start, Arkansas Launch is here to help you thrive,” Governor Sanders said. “This is about opportunity for all.”
To explore the platform and start your journey, visit jobseeker.launch.arkansas.gov.
Smart Justice is a magazine, podcast, and continuing news coverage from the nonprofit Restore Hope and covers the pursuit of better outcomes on justice system-related issues, such as child welfare, incarceration, and juvenile justice. Our coverage is solutions-oriented, focusing on the innovative ways in which communities are solving issues and the lessons that have been learned as a result of successes and challenges.
The podcast is available on all major podcasting platforms.
Subscribe to the Smart Justice newsletter.
