Workforce Investment Board
Encyclopedia
Workforce Investment Boards (or "WIBs") are regional entities created to implement the Workforce Investment Act of 1998
in the United States
, the Federated States of Micronesia
, the Republic of Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Every community in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico
, the United States Virgin Islands
, Guam
, American Samoa
, Federated States of Micronesia
, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau, is associated with a Local WIB (LWIB). For each LWIB, a chief elected official (for example, a county commissioner or the mayor of a lead city) appoints members to sit on the WIB. These appointed positions are unpaid. At least 50% of a WIB's membership must come from private businesses. There are also designated seats for representatives from labor unions and educational institutions like community college
s as well. Beyond these basic guidelines, many aspects of how an individual WIB operates can vary.
The WIB's main role is to direct federal
, state
and local
funding to workforce development
programs. WIBs conduct and publish research on these programs and the needs of their regional economy. They also oversee the One-Stop Career Centers, where job seekers can get employment information, find out about career development training opportunities and connect to various programs in their area. One-Stop Career Centers also provide many no-cost services to employers as well. Services vary by state and WIB.
WIBs work in conjunction with economic development related organizations in order to maximize the reaction time and create resources to intervene for both the dislocated workforce and the incumbent workforce members of a community.
Workforce Investment Act of 1998
The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 is a United States federal law passed August 7, 1998.-Purpose:The law was enacted to replace the Job Training Partnership Act and certain other Federal job training law with new workforce investment systems...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the Federated States of Micronesia
Federated States of Micronesia
The Federated States of Micronesia or FSM is an independent, sovereign island nation, made up of four states from west to east: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. It comprises approximately 607 islands with c...
, the Republic of Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Every community in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, the United States Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands of the United States are a group of islands in the Caribbean that are an insular area of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles.The U.S...
, Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
, Federated States of Micronesia
Federated States of Micronesia
The Federated States of Micronesia or FSM is an independent, sovereign island nation, made up of four states from west to east: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. It comprises approximately 607 islands with c...
, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau, is associated with a Local WIB (LWIB). For each LWIB, a chief elected official (for example, a county commissioner or the mayor of a lead city) appoints members to sit on the WIB. These appointed positions are unpaid. At least 50% of a WIB's membership must come from private businesses. There are also designated seats for representatives from labor unions and educational institutions like community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
s as well. Beyond these basic guidelines, many aspects of how an individual WIB operates can vary.
The WIB's main role is to direct federal
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
, state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
and local
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
funding to workforce development
Workforce development
Workforce development is an American economic development approach that attempts to enhance a region's economic stability and prosperity by focusing on people rather than businesses. It is essentially a human resources strategy...
programs. WIBs conduct and publish research on these programs and the needs of their regional economy. They also oversee the One-Stop Career Centers, where job seekers can get employment information, find out about career development training opportunities and connect to various programs in their area. One-Stop Career Centers also provide many no-cost services to employers as well. Services vary by state and WIB.
WIBs work in conjunction with economic development related organizations in order to maximize the reaction time and create resources to intervene for both the dislocated workforce and the incumbent workforce members of a community.