The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was signed 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 with a wide bipartisan majority; it is the first legislative reform of the public workforce system since 1998.

WIOA is landmark legislation designed to strengthen and improve our nation's public workforce system to help get Americans, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, into high-quality jobs and careers while helping employers hire and retain skilled workers. WIOA supersedes the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) and amends the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, the Wagner-Peyser Act, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. WIOA enhances a high quality one-stop center system by continuing to align partnerships in workforce, education, and economic development. WIOA also reinforces strategies to provide job seekers and workers with high-quality career services, education and training, and other services they need to get good jobs and stay employed. WIOA helps businesses find skilled workers and access other services, including education and training for their current workforce.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), in coordination with federal partners at the U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Health and Human Services (HHS), collaborate to provide information and resources for states, local areas, non-profits, other grantees, and other stakeholders.  The Missouri Combined WIOA State Plan is published here: Missouri PYs 2020-2023 | WIOA State Plan Portal (ed.gov)

Missouri's Workforce System

In Missouri, the state Workforce Development Board serves as a convener of State, regional, and local workforce system partners to:

• Enhance the capacity and performance of the workforce development system;
• Align and improve employment, training, and education programs, and
• Promote economic growth. 

WIOA authorizes six core programs:

• WIOA Title I (jobs.mo.gov): Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth programs administered by US Department of Labor (USDOL);
• WIOA Title II (ael.mo.gov): Adult Education and Literacy Act programs administered by the US Department of Education (US ED);
• WIOA Title III (jobs.mo.gov): Wagner-Peyser Act employment services administered by USDOL; and
• WIOA Title IV (dese.mo.gov/adult-learning-rehabilitation-services/vocational-rehabilitation): Rehabilitation Act Title I programs administered by US ED. 

In Missouri, additional Combined WIOA State Plan partners are:

• Career and technical education programs authorized under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, as amended by the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program
• Employment and Training programs under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
• Work programs authorized under section 6(o) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008
• Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers programs
• Jobs for Veterans State Grants Program
• Unemployment Insurance programs
• Senior Community Service Employment program
• Employment and training activities carried out by the Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Community Services Block Grant
• Reintegration of Ex-Offenders program