How was workforce development promoted prior to the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998?
The previous federal employment and training law was the Job Training Partnership Act, which became effective in 1983. Like the WIA, it too promoted private-public collaboration to provide the training needed for youth, and economically disadvantaged and dislocated workers to gain employment. Changing demands for more services dedicated to employers, increased accountability, and more collaboration among the many workforce stakeholders motivated the landmark WIA legislation.
