​​The Four Keys to Kansas’s Award-Winning Unemployment Insurance Transformation​

​​The Four Keys to Kansas’s Award-Winning Unemployment Insurance Transformation​

Author: Government Technology Insider January 15, 2026 Duration: 17:57

​​Today, technology is a critical part of delivering state services like unemployment insurance, but many states still rely on decades-old systems that struggle to meet demand. Like many agencies, the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) reached a turning point when unemployment claims surged at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legacy system, created in the 1970s, was unable to support the volume of claims and calls, causing delays in service and overburdening state staff. KDOL needed to not only stabilize its current unemployment insurance system but modernize it so it could become more agile and perpetually adaptive.

​In today’s episode of the Government Technology Insider Podcast, guest host Monica Mayk spoke with Amber Shultz, Secretary of Labor for the State of Kansas, about the state’s unemployment insurance modernization program. The landmark transformation, which now enables the state to better support Kansans during critical and vulnerable times, was honored with a 2025 State IT Recognition Award for Digital Experience: Agency and Program Solutions by the National Association of State CIOs (NASCIO). Secretary Shultz shares the story of KDOL’s transformation effort, the outcomes for constituents and state staff, and the four key factors that led her department to success.


Ever wonder what really happens when a new software platform gets rolled out across a state agency, or how a city decides which cloud provider to trust with its data? The Government Technology Insider Podcast pulls back the curtain on those exact processes. This isn't about theoretical futures; it's a grounded look at the actual work of modernizing public sector systems. Each conversation goes straight to the source, featuring the people who are navigating procurement, implementing security protocols, and managing the day-to-day realities of tech adoption within government frameworks. You'll hear firsthand accounts about the strategic choices that succeed, the unexpected hurdles that arise, and the practical solutions that make a difference. The discussions are candid and detailed, focusing less on hype and more on the tangible lessons learned from recent projects and initiatives. For anyone curious about the real intersection of civic duty and digital innovation, this podcast provides an essential, on-the-ground perspective. Tune in for a clear-eyed view of how technology is being woven into the fabric of government missions, one challenge and one victory at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Government Technology Insider Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Driving Efficiency, Resilience, and Sustainability Across the DoD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:25
In this episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast, host Matt Langan spoke with Dominic Bonaduce, Senior Manager for Product Strategy at Verizon and Greg Puschnigg, Chief Executive Officer at BOSS Controls abou…
Site Surveys for Successful FWA Deployment on Military Bases [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:55
In this episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast, host Matt Langan spoke with Verizon’s Dale Butterworth, Senior Solutions Partner and Dave Stepp Associate Director of Federal Connected Solutions-Federal to u…
The Promise of a Digital-First Government [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:01
In this episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast Lucas Hunsicker hosts a dynamic conversation with Granicus’s Charlotte Lee, Director of Growth Strategy, and Luke Norris, Vice President of Platform Strategy a…
The Changing Landscape of IT Distribution in the Public Sector [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:38
From hardware-focused supply chains to cloud-based service models, the distribution landscape has undergone significant changes. Over the past decade, the role of IT in government operations has evolved significantly and…
Ep 140: Boosting Innovation and Productivity through the Power of AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:24
What if you could cut information search times by 35 percent or boost customer satisfaction by 20 percent, all thanks to the power of AI? In this episode, Ruben Dedman, DevNet technical consultant and AI developer at TD…