Since its creation in 2014, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, or WIOA, has benefited millions of job seekers, including veterans, fresh graduates, unemployed workers, below-poverty line workers, fresh graduates, and persons with disabilities.
WIOA funding for US states is at $10.5 billion in 2016, including allocations for training programs under WIOA’s six core workforce programs and 11 partner programs.
But first, what is WIOA?
WIOA was created to replace the older Workforce Investment Act (WIA) to enhance the effectiveness of state-funded training and employment programs. These programs were designed to ensure job seekers will gain skills that are highly valued by industries and have better access to employers.
WIOA programs provide employment assistance to individuals who are experiencing challenges in acquiring jobs, such as the disabled, those who have been laid off, and those who come from a household with earnings that fall below the poverty line.
Grants are also extended to eligible individuals to enable them to undergo training in in-demand industries, including technology, healthcare, and finance.
How does WIOA accomplish this?
People who are eligible for WIOA funding are recommended and trained for in-demand industries. This is done through six core WIOA programs:
- Adult Services - equips individuals aged 18 and above - particularly those who have little skills or belong to the low-income bracket – with specialized career training services.
- Youth Services - intended for out-of-school youth and other individuals aged 14 to 24 who are experiencing education and employment challenges.
- Rehabilitation Services – extends medical and psychological assistance, work training, and counseling to persons with physical and mental disabilities.
- Adult Education and Literacy Program – enhances skills necessary in the workplace, including problem solving, basic math skills, literacy, and English proficiency.
- Wagner-Peyser Program – employment service that provides labor exchange between job seekers and employers.
- Dislocated Workers Program – assists employees who were laid-off or about to be unemployed in job search and training.
WIOA also has 11 partner programs for special groups (such as veterans and their spouses) and minorities, including Indian and Native Americans, disadvantaged families, seniors, and many others.
Opportunities for educational institutions and students
As 2018 ended, unemployment rate in the US is at 3.7%. This equates to over 12 million workers. This figure is expected to more or less stay stagnant between 3.6 and 3.8 percent from 2019 to 2021. The poverty rate, on the other hand, was at 12.3% in 2017. This means that nearly 40 million Americans live in poverty, and this includes people who have been laid off,disabled workers, those with a Bachelor’s Degree, and those who are aiming to get more training – all of whom WIOA’s programs cater to.
With the WIOA in place, states can better appropriate federal funds to students and partnerschools that can serve training program and career services. And because there are millions of Americans who are in dire need of work opportunities, many are looking towards reinventing themselves to enter or re-enter the workforce, making the WIOA a timely and relevant initiative to boost employment for Americans.