The new workforce investment act

It has taken some years of Congressional hearings and debates among policym akers at all levels of government, but Congress passed, and President Clint on signed, the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. WIA went into effect July 7, 1999, kicking off a major undertaking to streamline and improve public-s ector employment and training services. During the next two years, businesses, trainers, public officials, and educ ators will develop a new universal system to improve the quality of the U.S . workforce through retraining and upgrading skills. In effect, WIA replaces the Job Training Partnership Act. The programs JTPA spawned have been beset with problems, such as having a too-narrow focus a nd being difficult to access. Central to the success of WIA will be one-sto p service centers; some are already in operation. These centers provide ski ll assessments, training, job-search assistance, and referrals to other pro grams and services, depending on a person's needs. In addition, people can obtain Training Accounts or vouchers. Opportunities exist for business and HR professionals to serve on locally e stablished state boards. The article describes the criteria and a list of r esources for more information.