Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA)
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was signed into law on July 22, 2014. WIOA consolidated and replaced several previous workforce development laws, including the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It established several new programs and initiatives to help individuals prepare for, find, and retain employment, as well as to support employers in recruiting and training a skilled workforce.
Some key provisions of WIOA include:
Creation of a new one-stop delivery system that combines employment, education, and training services under a single roof
Establishment of new career and technical education programs to prepare individuals for high-demand occupations
Development of industry or sector partnerships to address the workforce needs of specific industries or sectors
Expansion of apprenticeship programs to provide on-the-job training and education
Establishment of new programs to help individuals with disabilities enter or re-enter the workforce
Overall, WIOA is designed to help individuals build the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the 21st century economy, and to help employers find the skilled workers they need to compete in a global marketplace.
Local Implementation of the Law
US Department of Labor has oversight over WIOA programs in all states and territories, referred to as the “American Job Center Network.” In Washington state, the governor designates statewide fiscal responsibility to the WA Employment Security Department, and local fiscal responsibility to city and regional governments. Washington state is divided into 11 “areas,” of which Seattle-King County is one, and each is required to produce a local coordinated plan to provide services to jobseekers and businesses. The governor appoints the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board to monitor state plans.
Seattle-King County’s planning process and local plan update are articulated in Recover Better: A Regional Plan for Equitable Economic Recovery and companion report Advancing Workforce Equity in Seattle: A Blueprint for Action.
Recover Better: A Regional Plan for Equitable Economic Recovery is a 3–5-year blueprint to drive strategic alignment and coordination of resources needed to achieve our region’s collective goal of racial equity and economic inclusion. The planning process and strategic framework were the basis of the WDC’s WIOA Plan update and intended to guide the WDC’s roadmap, priorities, and investment plan for creating a unified, equity focused, regional workforce development system. The plan development process included significant engagement with diverse workforce development stakeholders including: WDC service delivery partners, community-based organizations, individuals who received services from those organizations, government, economic development, training providers, and industry partners including Labor and employers. Engagement and public comment processes were embedded throughout an 8-month period and included convenings, presentations, meetings with community providers, listening sessions, work group meetings and targeted outreach to BIPOC, immigrant and refugee and workers disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. The WDC CEO also participated in parallel regional economic recovery planning efforts to share information and drive alignment and collaboration. The strategies were informed by input received throughout the process.
The Steering Committee, led by the WDC’s Systems Alignment Committee (SAC), formed a Working Group comprised of internal WDC staff, CLEO representatives and a team of consultants and community-based partner organizations with expertise in economic, community, racial equity, and workforce development. The consulting team included community members with deep experience and relationships with BIPOC and immigrant and refugee communities and coalitions. The Steering Committee held 5 meetings throughout the process to provide input and guidance throughout the development of the Plan, as well as represent the fuller perspectives of the board, workforce development system stakeholders, and community partners. The LWDB held two open meetings to review and solicit feedback on the Strategic Plan: October 22, 2021 Draft Plan Review and December 18, 2021: Final Review and Approval.
Local Workforce Development Board
Seattle-King County’s local workforce development board is an active, committed group of majority private sector members, as well as leaders from labor groups, youth and adult education entities, and state and local government agencies. Learn more about our board’s activities, see the most up to date board roster, and view the calendar of past and upcoming meetings, including agenda, minutes, and attachments for every meeting.
One-Stop Operator
The one-stop operator for WorkSource Seattle-King County is Career Path Services, as selected by the WDC board in an electronic vote. Operator procurement is governed by policy 03-2002. Learn more about the WorkSource Seattle-King County system.
Award of Grants or Contracts
The WDC funds programs that increase access and impact of public and private resources, utilizing strategies that are responsive to the needs of community and industry. This overview of the WDC's program investment includes overall goals, strategies, deliverables, and service providers funded per program.