The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requires states to align their workforce development programs with the needs of employers and job seekers. WIOA also promotes transparency and accountability through publicly available performance goals, and encourages regional collaboration between states. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) works with the U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide resources and information to local areas, non-profits, states, and other stakeholders.

WIOA was signed into law on July 22, 2014. WIOA is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. Congress passed the Act with a wide bipartisan majority; it is the first legislative reform of the public workforce system since 1998.