Passed in 2014, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) repealed the Workforce
Investment Act (WIA) of 1998. The WIOA was designed to strengthen and improve the
national public workforce system, including by helping job seekers access employment,
education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and by matching
employers with the skilled workers they need. Most provisions of the WIOA took effect
on July 1, 2015. Exceptions include the amendments to the Rehabilitation Act, which
took effect on the date of enactment (July 22, 2014).
The WIOA strengthens and modernizes the existing workforce infrastructure and expands
the requirements for State workforce systems and One-Stop Career Centers. The focus
is to connect job seekers, particularly those experiencing barriers to employment,
with education and training opportunities that provide them with skills to meet the
hiring needs of employers. Several provisions of the WIOA provide increased emphasis
on meeting the needs of youth and people with disabilities.