State of Oregon: Workforce Investments - Implementation of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

Oregon Implementation of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

Oregon has the support of the federal government in efforts to help state residents reach their full education and career potential. The HECC Offices of Workforce Investments (OWI) and Community Colleges and Workforce Development (CCWD) work together as the administrative entities for several federally funded workforce and education programs, authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), and are primary partners in the implementation of WIOA in Oregon.

WIOA is designed to help job seekers succeed in the labor market by providing them with resources to access employment, education, training, and support services and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. HECC has direct authority over several of these core programs in Oregon, including:

Adult and Dislocated Worker Programs (Title I of WIOA):

support dislocated workers, other adults, and employers before and during a layoff, or with general career development, and they provide adult skills and training opportunities at community colleges and other sites statewide. Administered by the HECC Office of Workforce Investments (OWI).

Youth Workforce Programs (Title I of WIOA):

provides workforce development training opportunities to young people ages 14-24. Administered by HECC-OWI.

Adult Education and Family Literacy Act Programs (Title II of WIOA):

provide quality basic skills and literacy services for adults across Oregon, including English as a second language instruction at community colleges and other sites statewide. Administered by the HECC Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development (CCWD).

OWI and CCWD have direct administrative responsibility for many of the activities identified in the Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth programs identified in title I of WIOA and the Adult Education and Literacy activities identified in title II of WIOA. In these roles, the HECC distributes workforce funding, provides fiscal oversight and accountability for workforce programs, and provides policy direction and technical assistance to state and local workforce partners, staff, and other stakeholders statewide.

WIOA supersedes the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and amends the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, the Wagner-Peyser Act, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Each year, the key programs that form the pillars of WIOA help tens of millions of job seekers and workers nationwide connect to good jobs and acquire the skills and credentials needed to obtain them.