Federally-funded Workforce Development

This 41-page paper, written by Carolyn J. Heinrich, discusses major workforce development programs under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and publicly-funded workforce development for middle-skill employment. This paper begins with a discussion of "existing evidence on the effectiveness of federally-funded workforce development programs in preparing individuals for middle-skilled jobs and meeting employer needs for skilled workers. Next, evolving administrative and organizational structures of the workforce development system and challenges of coordination and alignment across them and among system partners are described." The paper also includes a discussion of strategies for improving coordination between the workforce development system and its required partners, increasing employer engagement, changes and new opportunities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), and recommendations for increasing the effectiveness of workforce development programs.