Passed in 2014 to replace the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) works to improve the workforce development system by helping workers acquire the necessary skill development and education opportunities to obtain middle-class employment while providing employers with the skilled employees they need to compete in the global economy. WIOA is a critical legislation that guides workforce development across the country.

The Act reforms local workforce development boards so they are smaller and more versatile with streamlined services and evaluations as well as have more local control over planning and spending. This will allow local workforce boards to better meet their unique regional needs by focusing their outreach for services such as education and skill development to individuals like disconnected youth and people with disabilities.

As a requirement of WIOA, the Governor of each state or U.S. territory was required to submit a State Plan to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) which details core strategies for the state’s workforce development system. Nevada’s Unified Sate Plan was submitted and approved by DOL back in 2016.