KEY ISSUES
While the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act plays a role in workforce development, state policymakers actively seek ways beyond WIOA requirements to connect education with workforce and economic development efforts in their states. To achieve this, states adopt policies to connect education, postsecondary attainment and economic development with state workforce development.
If you are new to workforce development, start with this three-part blog series, which explores board membership, duties and incentives.
We also have the following general resources that provide more state-by-state information on the issue.
RESEARCH
50-State Comparisons
How all states approach workforce development policies.
REPORT
Policy Reports
Relevant context and state policy examples on workforce development.
Blog Posts
Legislative trends and other news with implications for workforce development.
One way to support job readiness is to define and create postsecondary and career pathways in computer science for students throughout their K-12 education.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provides a considerable investment in American infrastructure while recognizing the need to train and create pathways for people to enter career fields related to infrastructure.
Rural communities are not a monolith; their diversity creates unique assets and opportunities that require unique policy solutions. One of the best ways to understand the diversity of those challenges — and, in turn, identify the most effective solutions — is to hear directly from rural residents.
This has been a time of tremendous upheaval in schools around the country. While Iowa students benefitted from a safe and responsible return to in-person learning last year, the impact of the pandemic was certainly felt in our state too.
COUNSEL
State Information Requests
Brief issue scans, typically provided within 48 hours, that provide top-level information on workforce development.
Searching for something different?
View all available workforce development resources:
Explore our State Education Policy Tracking resource:
Browse pending legislation on our State Education Policy Watchlist: