US Department of Education and US Department of Labor Announce Historic Expansion of WIOA Combined State Plans

News Release

US Department of Education and US Department of Labor Announce Historic Expansion of WIOA Combined State Plans

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Labor (DOL) today announced a major milestone in federal efforts to strengthen alignment across education and workforce systems. In a push to support greater coordination and improve outcomes for learners and workers, 21 states have now submitted combined Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) State Plans to address workforce challenges and employer needs, compared to just 9 states in 2024.

This action is a result of ED and DOL's historic Workforce Development Partnership, streamlining and aligning key federal education and workforce programs to ease the burden on state workforce agencies and improve outcomes for workers and students. In April, both agencies jointly issued guidance encouraging states to include and integrate career and technical education (CTE) programs funded under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins V) in their combined WIOA State Plans. As a result, the number of combined plans nationwide has more than doubled, helping states streamline workforce planning, better align valuable credentials with in-demand jobs, reduce administrative burdens, and prepare for Workforce Pell Grant program implementation this summer.

"More than doubling the number of states that have submitted combined WIOA State Plans including Perkins V is unprecedented and provides clear evidence of the utility and value being provided by the Workforce Development Partnership," said Nick Moore, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of Career and Technical Education. "Indeed, many of the benefits accruing from our burgeoning partnership are associated with activities that states have been permitted to do on paper but were not able to act on until the Trump Administration eliminated federal red-tape through commonsense reforms like aligning the submission timelines for WIOA and Perkins."

"The dramatic increase in combined plans demonstrates that states not only want greater alignment between historically siloed systems but also realize that combining efforts delivers stronger training and employment outcomes for the American worker and student," said U.S. Department of Labor Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Henry Mack. "I am grateful for the leadership of our state partners and proud of the direction we are headed. We will carry out President Trump's blueprint for unleashing America's talent and reindustrializing the nation."

WIOA governs the state and local workforce development system, while Perkins V governs CTE programs. Bringing these two systems together through a single WIOA State Plan creates greater efficiency and helps align education and workforce priorities. More importantly, it signals to parents, students, and workers that the programs are working toward a shared goal: preparing Americans for successful careers.

This joint effort is a cornerstone of America's Talent Strategy, which emphasizes:

• Strengthening education-workforce alignment;
• Expanding access to high-quality career pathways; and
• Building a unified talent development system that meets the skill needs of employers and creates more opportunities for all Americans.

The agencies' coordinated guidance prompted states to think differently about long-standing planning processes and how to more fully integrate career and technical education into their broader workforce development strategies. As a result of this federal partnership, the number of states choosing to include Perkins V as a combined-program partner in their WIOA State Plans dramatically increased, marking a historic and unprecedented achievement.

In addition, this past November, DOL issued guidance encouraging states to explore systems waiver opportunities, promote flexibility within WIOA formula funded programs, and achieve the Administration's vision for America's workforce under Executive Order 14278 on Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future. To date, a total of 180 waivers have been requested, aiming to maximize innovation, remove barriers to better serve job seekers and employers, and break down silos with education stakeholders, as evidenced by the combined plans.

The combined plans and increased waiver flexibility reflect growing recognition among states that a more unified approach improves coordination across programs, expands access to shared data and resources, and ultimately delivers better outcomes for students, workers, and employers.

"By integrating Perkins V into Mississippi's Combined State Plan, we are further unifying career technical education with workforce priorities to further expand high-quality pathways in sectors with the greatest employer demand. Guided by labor market data and Mississippi's continuing strategic alignment of workforce, education, and training investments, this plan ensures businesses have the skilled talent needed to continue to drive economic growth in Mississippi and every Mississippian has access to quality jobs," said Dr. William Ashley, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, Office of the Governor. "This strengthened collaboration reflects Mississippi's continuing commitment to a demand-driven and continuously improving workforce system."

"This submission reflects coordinated work across Florida's core and partner programs and now includes Perkins V as part of the Combined State Plan, supporting a more fully integrated education and workforce system," said Adrienne Johnston, CareerSource Florida President and CEO.

"The integration of Perkins V in the Combined State Plan reflects a key step toward further aligning education and workforce priorities," said Anastasios Kamoutsas, Florida Commissioner of Education. "By strengthening coordination across programs, we are ensuring that students have direct pathways to high-wage, high-demand careers while building a talent pipeline that meets the demands of today's economy."