The Law Behind Your Community’s Workforce
WIOA funds the free training, credentials, and job placement programs already changing lives in your district.
About WIOA
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is the federal law behind the country's public workforce system — the free job training, skills education, and career placement programs available in every state and district.
Signed into law in 2014 with bipartisan support, WIOA is the nation's primary workforce law — and the only federal funding stream devoted explicitly to connecting Opportunity Youth to education, training, and jobs.
Why WIOA Matters
There are more than 4.5 million Opportunity Youth nationwide, or an average of 11,000 in every Congressional District.
WIOA-funded programs are locally designed, built around the jobs employers in your district actually need filled.
As the only federal funding stream dedicated to reconnecting Opportunity Youth, WIOA holds the key to unlocking opportunity for young people and their communities.
What is WIOA
Check out this series of shorts featuring our coalition partners for more about how WIOA works, and why it’s so critical for our communities.
Get in Touch
This August, we're inviting Congressional offices to see WIOA at work. Visit a local program funded by WIOA — meet the young people it serves, the providers who run it, and the employers who hire from it.
Reach out to learn more, join a site visit, or talk through WIOA in your district!
About the Campaign
The Reconnecting Youth Campaign remains at the forefront of legislative investment victories centering Opportunity Youth.
Since our launch in 2017, our advocacy has focused on working with elected officials to ensure youth and young adults disconnected from education and employment are prioritized in budget decisions, policies and programs. Equitable access to education, employment and service pathways lead to intergenerational economic mobility for youth, young adults, and their families.