This new report from the National Skills Coalition (NSC) draws on examples from 14 states to see how they have addressed recommendations offered by NSC in the 2015 publication Realizing Innovation and Opportunity in WIOA: A Playbook for Creating Effective State Plans, which focused on how states could use WIOA plans to close the skill gap and help workers and employers succeed. The 2015 recommendations addressed the state planning process, as well as four key WIOA-supported strategies: 1) sector partnerships, 2) career pathways, 3) cross-program data and measurement, and 4) job-driven investments.

This reference guide from the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration provides a detailed table of contents, outlining what can be found in each section of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act: Joint Rule for Unified and Combined State Plans, Performance Accountability, and the One-Stop System Joint Provisions; Final Rule.

This FAQ webpage from the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration provides guidance on topics related to the recently released WIOA Final Rules. Topics include cooperation and technical assistance, one-stops and one-stop partners, performance, adult education, vocational rehabilitation, and more.

This fact sheet from the Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services provides a more detailed look at the provisions of each of the WIOA Final Rules. These final regulations provide the foundation upon which services to individuals and businesses can be strengthened and improved over time, keeping with WIOA’s focus on delivering integrated, coordinated services.

This fact sheet from the Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services gives a brief overview of what the WIOA Final Rules mean at a very high level for workers and job seekers, employers, communities, and government.

This fact sheet from the Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services gives a brief summary of each of the five final rules documents that were made available on June 30, 2016. The final rules provide the foundation upon which services to individuals and businesses can be strengthened and improved over time under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

The Department of Labor issued this Final Rule to implement Titles I and III of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Through these regulations, the Department reforms and modernizes our nation’s workforce development system. The rule provides the framework for changes for statewide and local workforce development systems to increase the employment, retention, earnings, and occupational skill attainment of U.S. workers, particularly those individuals with barriers to employment, so they can move into good jobs and careers and provide businesses with the skilled workforce needed to make the United States more competitive in the 21st Century global economy. 

The Departments of Education (ED) and Labor (DOL) issued this Joint Final Rule to implement jointly administered activities authorized by Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) that was signed into law on July 22, 2014. Through these regulations, the Departments implement workforce education and employment system reforms and strengthen the nation’s public workforce development system to provide increased economic opportunity and make the United States more competitive in the 21st century evolving labor market. This Joint WIOA Final Rule provides guidance for State and local workforce development systems that increase the skill and credential attainment, employment, retention, and earnings of participants, especially those with significant barriers to employment, thereby improving the quality of the workforce, reducing dependency on public benefits, increasing economic opportunity, and enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of the nation.

The purpose of this Training and Employment Notice (TEN) is to announce the advance posting of the WIOA final regulations, specifically:

• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; Joint Rule for Unified and Combined State Plans, Performance Accountability, and the One-Stop System Joint Provisions; Final Rule.
• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; Department of Labor-Only; Final Rule.
• Programs and Activities Authorized by the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act); Final Rule.
• State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program; State Supported Employment Services Program; Limitations on Use of Subminimum Wage; Final Rule.
• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Miscellaneous Program Changes; Final Rule. 

This TEN also announces two information collections to implement WIOA, and align performance accountability and information reporting for WIOA and additional Department of Labor programs. Further, the DOL established Information Collections for all programs authorized by WIOA title I and additional DOL administered programs. These information collections are as follows:

• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Common Performance Reporting; OMB Control No. 1205-0526.
• DOL-Only Performance Accountability, Information, and Reporting System; OMB Control No. 1205-0521.