Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
President Barack Obama signed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) 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 by a wide bipartisan majority; it is the first legislative reform in 15 years of the public workforce system.
WIOA supersedes the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and amends the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, the Wagner-Peyser Act, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In general, the Act took effect on July 1, 2015, the first full program year after enactment, though many aspects will be implemented in 2016.
One of the most significant changes with this legislation is that the focus of the youth programming is now largely on "out-of-school youth". Prior to WIOA, 30% of youth customers were required to be out-of-school. Starting on July 1, 2015, 75% of the youth customers are required to be out-of-school. During the previous program year in Fairfield County, a total of 182 youth participated in youth programs (including the Summer Youth Program). Fifty-nine of these youth (or 32%) were out-of-school youth. Workforce Development Officials are working with local youth program providers to recruit this target demographic and are on pace to meet this new requirement.