What does WIOA do?
Public Law 113-128, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), replaced the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 to authorize the federal workforce programs in 2015. WIOA modernizes the nation’s workforce system and emphasizes the demand-driven approach that Illinois has developed over the past several years. Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity coordinates with state and local workforce and economic development partners to implement requirements associated with the two-year implementation of WIOA in coordination with the Illinois Economic Development Plan (published by Commerce in July 2014).
WIOA requires strategic coordination of four core programs:
- Employment and training services for adults, dislocated workers, and youth
- Wagner-Peyser employment services
- Adult education and literacy programs
- Vocational Rehabilitation programs serving individuals with disabilities in obtaining employment