Declining Share of Adults Receiving Training under WIA are Low-Income or Disadvantaged

Publication Date: December 2005

Publisher: Center for Law and Social Policy

Author(s): Abbey Frank; Elisa Minoff

Research Area: Education; Social conditions

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) significantly changed the way federally funded job training and employment services are structured, and has impacted who receives training under the program. In particular, the share of training recipients who are low-income or have barriers to employment has dropped since WIA was enacted.

This paper examines the data, considers some possible explanations for this decline, and offers recommendations for WIA reauthorization and state and local action to increase the share of training resources directed to adults who are low-income, single parents, or have other barriers to finding and keeping employment.