California launches AI Skills Matching tool to help people find state jobs

How the Skills Matching tool works

The tool was built in partnership between the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) and the Office of Data and Innovation (ODI). Job seekers upload a resume and receive suggested state job classifications that align with their skills and experience. The state says the tool relies on secure, automated resume analysis.

The prototype uses the same technology as AskCA, an AI-powered tool meant to help Californians connect with state services through a model designed around life events such as finding a job, starting a business, or recovering from a disaster. According to the announcement, CalHR is the first department to deploy a prototype of a tool powered by AskCA in a live public service.

On privacy, the state says information and data from the applicant's resume and conversation are not stored or saved on the website. Each use of the tool begins a new session with no retained data.

Early interest and the problem it targets

The announcement says job seekers applying to state positions have historically lacked clear guidance on which roles fit their backgrounds. The state wants the tool to cut the time spent navigating the wide range of classifications in state service. Early testers called the approach especially helpful for people new to public service, according to the release.

Since the soft launch, the prototype has drawn approximately 21,500 clicks to explore the tool, and nearly 8,000 people submitted a resume or information to receive classification recommendations. The state says this engagement shows demand for clearer hiring guidance and will shape future versions of the tool.

CalHR Director Monica Erickson said the tool "will help hundreds of thousands of applicants understand where to begin their search and cut through the specialized terminology of state classifications." Jeffery Marino, Director of the California Office of Data and Innovation, said the AskCA framework "was born from real needs, tested with Californians, and now it's delivering results."

Part of wider state hiring changes

The state presents the tool as a complement to several ongoing CalHR efforts to make state hiring more accessible:

• Licensed professionals: CalHR is streamlining hiring for roles that require professional licensure, starting with marriage and family therapists and clinical counselors. Applicants can use existing certifications or licenses instead of completing a full examination.
• Accelerated Hiring Guide: Developed with the Government Operations Agency and the State Personnel Board, it is estimated to save state staff more than 500,000 hours annually. It reduces applicant screening times by 80% to 85% and defers minimum qualification checks until candidates are selected for interviews.
• Pooled hiring: CalHR completed its first Pooled Hiring Pilot, which consolidates multiple departmental vacancies into shared job announcements. It focused on Analyst I, Analyst II, and Student Assistant classifications. The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration then launched its own "NextGen Program", whose first hiring event resulted in 23 student hires.

What it means for job seekers

For applicants, the tool offers a way to start a search from their own resume rather than from the state's classification system. It is still described as a prototype, and the state says early usage data will inform later iterations. The release also links the project to the governor's broader AI agenda, including executive orders on generative AI in state government issued in 2023 and 2026 and a partnership with Anthropic to provide AI productivity tools, training, and technical assistance to state and local employees.