Workforce Development Areas Current Labor & Industry

A labor market area that is usually a group of contiguous counties where employment, training, and educational services are provided as established under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to provide services for dislocated workers and other eligible individuals.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is a federal act passed in 2014 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. WIOA ensures that employment and training services provided by the core programs of employment services, workforce development, adult education, and vocational rehabilitation activities are coordinated and complementary so that job seekers acquire skills and credentials that meet employers' needs.