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For the last few months, we’ve been talking about layoffs, AI disruption, the future of work, and what happens when people lose jobs faster than the support system can catch up.

Now we’re testing something more concrete.

Offboard is working with Rohan Marfatia, a candidate for Alameda County Supervisor in District 2, on a pilot concept for displaced workers in Alameda County.

This does not mean Offboard is becoming a political organization. It means we’re trying to test an idea we’ve believed from day one: when someone loses work, they shouldn’t have to hunt through broken websites, stale resource lists, vague advice, and long wait times just to figure out where to begin.

They should have one clear place to start.

That’s the idea behind the Alameda County pilot.

The goal is to measure how Offboard can help people move faster after a layoff or career shock, and build the infrastructure to make it happen. Someone affected by layoffs, AI disruption, career transition, or economic instability could use it to organize their next step, find relevant support, and see practical paths back into work. Local leaders could also get a better read on what residents are actually facing, instead of guessing from incomplete data.

You can learn more about the pilot concept below:

How Rohan wants to support jobseekers

Rohan’s campaign has focused on transparency, accountability, economic security, workforce training tied to real jobs and AI skills, faster layoff response, and responsible use of technology in local government.

That overlap is why this pilot made sense to explore.

The job crisis is already here. AI is changing how companies hire. Layoffs are still hitting workers across sectors. People are being told to adapt quickly, but too often they’re left to piece together support on their own.

County governments are going to be close to the consequences. They’ll see the people between jobs, the families absorbing the shock, and the gaps between what workers need and what existing programs can deliver.

We think Alameda County has a chance to test a more practical response. Less maze. More signal. Faster help.

Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll share more about what we’re building, what we’re learning, and how Alameda County residents may be able to participate.

If you live in Alameda County District 2, you can learn more about Rohan and the issues he’s running on here:

https://rohanmarfatia.org/

If you’re outside Alameda County, this still matters.

Every city, county, employer, and workforce board is going to face some version of the same question: when work changes faster than our institutions can respond, what should we build?

We think the answer starts with treating displaced workers like people, not paperwork.

More soon,
The Offboard Team