Federal, State, and Local Roles in the Public Workforce System under Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

Federal, State, and Local Roles in the Public Workforce System under Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

Federal, State, and Local Roles in the Public Workforce System under Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

December 16, 2025 (IG10091)

Summary

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA; P.L. 113-128) is the primary federal workforce development statute. Title I of WIOA authorizes three formula grants to states that support training and career services for youth, adults, and dislocated workers. State and local workforce development boards establish strategies to facilitate workforce services to meet local needs through a network of One-Stop Career Centers.

Federal - Department of Labor

Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is the unit within DOL that is responsible for administering WIOA Title I programs. ETA allots formula grants to states and provides oversight to state grantees.

Title I of WIOA authorizes three formula grants that support workforce services:

The Youth Activities program targets youth who are low-income and/or meet other criteria, with particular emphasis on out-of-school youth.

The Adult Activities program can be accessed by any adult worker, but does establish priority access to more intensive services (like training) for participants who are low-income or meet other specified criteria.

The Dislocated Worker Activities program targets workers who involuntarily lost their jobs and are unlikely to obtain reemployment in the same industry or occupation.

WIOA's Performance Accountability System uses a set of outcome-based metrics for program participants. The metrics include employment status, earnings, and credential attainment. States negotiate target levels of performance with DOL.

States

State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) are units of state government that are recipients of federal WIOA formula funds and are responsible for compliance with federal policies. SWAs subgrant most formula funds to local areas.

State Workforce Development Boards (State WDBs) are made up of labor market stakeholders appointed by the governor. The majority of State WDB members must be representatives of private business.

State Plans are developed by State WDBs. The plans include an analysis of the state's economic conditions, including identifying in-demand sectors and occupations. State Plans describe how the state will coordinate WIOA funding and other resources to meet state labor market needs.

Eligible Training Provider List (ETP List) identifies state-approved providers of training programs that are aligned with in-demand industry sectors and occupations. ETPs may include institutions of higher education, vocational schools, apprenticeships, and other public or private entities.

Local Areas

Local Areas are designated by the state, following federal parameters. In some instances, states can operate as a "single state local area" where the state performs local area functions.

Local Workforce Development Boards (Local WDBs) are made up of labor market stakeholders appointed by the chief elected official(s) of the local area. Similar to the State WDBs, the majority of a local board must be representatives of private business.

Local Plans are developed by Local WDBs. Local Plans are somewhat similar to State Plans and describe the local strategy to coordinate WIOA funding with other partner programs to meet local labor market needs.

One-Stop Career Centers (also known as American Job Centers) are facilities that serve individual program participants. Services provided through these centers include:

Career Services such as skill and need assessment, job search assistance, facilitation of supportive services.

Training, most frequently provided through individual training accounts, where a participant many choose among programs in the ETP List.

Information as of December 15, 2025. Prepared by Benjamin Collins, Specialist in Labor Policy, and Juan Pablo Madrid, Visual Information Specialist.