Alaska Wins Gold for Unemployment Insurance Data Exchange Award
Summary
The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development's Unemployment Insurance Program received the Gold Award from the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) on April 16, 2026, at the SIDES Seminar in Denver, Colorado. Alaska was recognized for achieving 100% connection with SIDES integrated partners—companies or organizations whose internal software is directly connected to the State Information Data Exchange System for automatic data exchange. The award highlights Alaska's successful electronic integration with all SIDES partners, enabling employers and Third-Party Administrators to process UI information exchanges through standardized web-based programs instead of manual paper forms.
“The Gold Award was given to Alaska for being connected with 100% of SIDES integrated partners.”
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GovPing monitors AK Department of Labor and Workforce Development for new labor & employment regulatory changes. Every update since tracking began is archived, classified, and available as free RSS or email alerts — 3 changes logged to date.
What changed
Alaska's Unemployment Insurance Program received NASWA's Gold Award for achieving 100% integration with SIDES (State Information Data Exchange System) partners, meaning all organizations connected to Alaska's UI system through SIDES have direct software integration enabling automatic data exchange. SIDES and SIDES E-Response are free web-based programs developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor that replace paper forms with standardized electronic formats for processing UI information exchanges, offering employers and Third-Party Administrators reduced paperwork, eliminated postage costs, and more secure and accurate information processing. Employers interested in becoming integrated partners should contact Alaska DOLWD at dol.sides@alaska.gov to sign up, with the agency encouraging business owners to consider the integration for streamlined UI management.
Archived snapshot
Apr 22, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Alaska receives SIDES Unemployment Integrity Dedication Award
April 20, 2026
No. 26-7
JUNEAU — The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program received the Gold Award from the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) during the UI State Information Data Exchange System (SIDES) Seminar in Denver, Colorado held on April 16, 2026. The Gold Award was given to Alaska for being connected with 100% of SIDES integrated partners. An integrated partner is a company or organization whose internal software is directly connected to SIDES via a system integration, allowing automatic data exchange instead of manual entry.
"SIDES is a great tool for Alaskan businesses to streamline the management of unemployment insurance responsibilities, said DOLWD Commissioner Catherine Muñoz. If possible, business owners should consider becoming an integrated partner."
SIDES and SIDES E-Response are web-based programs developed through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor and state UI agencies to simplify and streamline requests and responses for UI information. SIDES and SIDES E-response use a nationally standardized, electronic format to process UI information exchanges. Both options offer employers and Third-Party Administrators (TPAs) a free, time-reducing, secure option instead of filling out paper forms.
SIDES and SIDES E-Response will:
- Reduce paperwork and administrative costs
- Ensure secure and accurate information exchanges
- Eliminate postage fees
- Minimize UI rates
Reduce overpayments and appeals
If you are an employer who would like to sign up for SIDES, email us at dol.sides@alaska.gov and provide the following information:Your business name and FEIN
Contact name and phone number
The email address where you would like the information requests sent
For additional information about SIDES, visit https://labor.alaska.gov/estax/SIDES.htm.
last updated: April 20, 2026
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