March 13, 2025

The nation’s main workforce development legislation — the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, or WIOA — can strengthen pathways to economic security for individuals and enhance workforce competitiveness for employers.

Last week Strada President and CEO Stephen Moret testified before the House Committee on Education and Workforce about reauthorizing the legislation.

The 2014 reauthorization of WIOA sought to modernize the public workforce system by better aligning education and training with employer needs, promoting career pathways, and ensuring accountability through measurable outcomes. Now the next opportunity – for both the workforce and employers – is to drive WIOA’s evolution toward a greater alignment with the labor market.

“A foundational promise of our education and workforce systems is to knock down walls and open doors to opportunity,” Moret told the committee. “But these systems have struggled to keep up with the rapid evolution of work and learning.”

THE FUTURE OF APPRENTICESHIPS

At the dawn of the second Trump administration, supporters of apprenticeships were optimistic about their future. These on-the-job training programs have enjoyed bipartisan backing, but proponents worry other policies could have negative effects on the system. Read more.

BIPARTISAN SUPPORT OF WIOA

Members of the U.S. House from both parties emphasized last week the need to update the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to better connect job seekers with employers. The nation’s main workforce development legislation narrowly missed congressional passage in December, but both sides showed enthusiasm for reauthorization.​​

Read more.

INFLUENCE OF JOB MARKET, EDUCATION COST ON GEN Z

The American dream is desirable but feels out of reach for 60 percent of individuals in Generation Z, a new study from UCLA’s Center for Scholars and Storytellers finds. On the Work in Progress podcast, center founder and CEO Yalda T. Uhls shares how the job market, cost of education after high school, and social media use are affecting the latest generation of the workforce. Listen here.

SXSW EDU: Strada’s Ruth Watkins, president of postsecondary education, and University Innovation Alliance CEO Bridget Burns discussed how to create a blueprint for maximizing talent and opportunity.

TESTIMONY: Strada President and CEO Stephen Moret testified before the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

WEBINAR: In a new webinar hosted by Strada affiliate InsideTrack, learn how one state has helped thousands of adult learners return to college and complete degrees.