What is a Workforce Board?

As of January 2025, there are approximately 7.1 million jobseekers in America with an estimated 7.7 million jobs that businesses are struggling to fill. How do these two groups find each other? In many cases, it is a local workforce board.

 

Each day, local workforce boards:

  • Serve as the conveners, collaborators, and navigators of their local workforce ecosystem
  • Ensure local employers have a robust talent pipeline as well as prepare workers for future occupations and future employers that may not yet exist
  • Bring together members of the large, medium and small business communities and their industry groups, K-12 education systems, local community colleges, universities, training providers, elected officials, nonprofit organizations, chambers and economic developers, and other partners (such as hospitality, health care, housing, agriculture, manufacturing, financial services, and transit) to evaluate the local employment landscape, develop training initiatives and match workers and employers with opportunities within in-demand and growing segments of their local economies
  • Oversee approximately 2,300 American Job Centers (AJCs) across the country to help job seekers identify opportunities for employment and the education, training, and support needed to be successful. AJCs also work with employers to create apprenticeships, work experience opportunities, and on-the-job training
  • Spur life-changing employment, economic security, and the opportunity for a more prosperous local area and a brighter future

 

In the most recent program year:

  • A total of 8,583,318 individuals were served through WIOA 1
  • WIOA serves individuals many with the most significant challenges to finding and obtaining family-sustaining employment, including low income, disabilities, limited education, language barriers, or long-term unemployment
  • WIOA workforce programs helped 377,095 veterans 2
  • Over 70 percent of individuals receiving career and training services became employed

 

Every dollar invested in the public workforce system:

  • Reduces reliance on public assistance
  • Generates additional tax revenues
  • Spurs business growth and prosperity
  • Improves workforce productivity
  • Leverages private funding

 

1 2.7 million received staff assisted services and are therefore counted in federal performance indicators, while an additional 5.8 million individuals were supported by the public workforce system in some way
2 One year period from 7/1/23-6/30/24