hot topic
Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act 101
by Jennifer Ginn
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act—also known as WIOA—will bring some big changes to states, according to Bryan Wilson, state policy director of the National Skills Coalition. The act, signed into law by President Obama on July 22, 2014, replaced the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. Wilson said the act encompasses two broad strategies for workforce development—sector partnerships and career pathways. “States and local workforce boards will have to have a system of partnerships where the employers in the industry sector sit down with the education and training providers who prepare workers for that sector to say what are the skill gaps in their sector and devise a plan to close those gaps and implement that plan,” he said. With career pathways, Wilson said, the core programs authorized by WIOA—such as Adult, Dislocated Worker and Youth formula programs and certain Rehabilitation Act programs—will need to work together to provide everything a person needs to get back into the workforce, from academic instruction to occupational skills training. “In order to implement the law successfully, leadership at every level of the system is critical,” U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez said. “Governors, mayors, county commissioners and their staff, along with workforce boards and service providers, all have important roles to play. States should begin talking strategically with local and regional partners to develop strategies for shared planning and program management.” In general, provisions in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act take effect July 1, 2015. State unified and local plans and the performance accountability measures take effect July 1, 2016. “I think, in general, we see this law as an improvement, which is good. I think there are some opportunities,” said Thomas Smith, Delaware’s director for the Division of Employment and Training.
SIGNING WIOA WASHINGTON, D.C.—President Barack Obama, joined by Vice President Joe Biden, members of Congress and invited guests, signed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which aims to help job seekers gain valuable employment skills, last summer. Rep. Virginia Foxx, left, and Rep. George Miller, looking over the president’s shoulder at center right, attended the bill signing. © AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite
“The law gives us the resources and flexibility to align and integrate workforce and education programs across federal, state and local levels so that the needs of business and workers drive public investment in training and career services.” —U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez
22 CAPITOL IDEAS | MAR/APR 2015
Here are some of the major changes made in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act for state policymakers to consider.
