SXSW EDU Panel: Hide & Seek—Find, Train, Place and Support Hidden Workers

In this dynamic panel discussion, Joe Watt (managing director at ECMC Group’s Education Impact Fund) moderates a conversation on how to better serve “hidden workers”—people who face barriers to employment and often remain overlooked by traditional hiring practices. Joined by Sarah Strober (workforce development market director at Interplay Learning), Jamie Fall (workforce and economic strategies director at the Economic Development Collaborative in Ventura County) and Arti Finn (co-founder and chief strategy officer at Origin), Joe and the panel dives into real-world strategies that help formerly incarcerated individuals, adults lacking digital skills and other underserved populations gain meaningful career opportunities.

From unlocking federal and state funding to designing innovative training pathways in the skilled trades and beyond, the panelists offer valuable perspectives for employers, educators and nonprofits alike. Their stories—ranging from immersive virtual reality learning to tech-enabled credentialing—showcase how flexible, learner-centered approaches can create genuine career mobility and address urgent workforce shortages. If you’re looking to understand the evolving landscape of workforce development and learn practical ways to support hidden workers, this session is a must-watch.