U.S. education and labor agencies expand combined WIOA state plans

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WIOA state plans expansion

Highlights

U.S. Departments of Education and Labor report more than doubling of states submitting combined WIOA and Perkins V state plans following April joint guidance.
Agencies attribute state adoption surge to America's Talent Strategy and 180 WIOA waivers requested under Executive Order 14278 to boost skilled trade job preparation.
Mississippi and Florida officials stress that combined plans support integrated talent pipelines, expand pathways to high-wage, high-demand jobs, and align training with employer needs.

Federal push links workforce and education planning

As reported by ED.gov, the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor say the increase in combined state plans follows joint guidance issued in April encouraging states to incorporate Perkins V career and technical education programs into their WIOA planning. The agencies say the change is intended to reduce administrative burdens on state workforce agencies, align credentials with in-demand jobs and support implementation of the Workforce Pell Grant program this summer.

Acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of Career and Technical Education Nick Moore says more than doubling the number of states submitting combined plans that include Perkins V is unprecedented and shows the value of the agencies' Workforce Development Partnership. Assistant Secretary of Labor Dr. Henry Mack says the increase indicates states want closer alignment between systems that have historically operated separately and see stronger training and employment outcomes from a unified approach.

WIOA governs state and local workforce development systems, while Perkins V covers career and technical education programs. Bringing the two into a single state plan is meant to improve efficiency and signal that education and workforce programs are being organized around a shared objective of preparing students and workers for careers.

States widen adoption as waiver use grows

The agencies frame the planning shift as part of America's Talent Strategy, which focuses on strengthening education-workforce alignment, expanding access to career pathways and building a more unified talent development system for employers. They say the coordinated guidance has prompted states to rethink long-standing planning processes and integrate career and technical education more fully into broader workforce strategies.

DOL also issued guidance in November encouraging states to explore system waivers and use flexibility within WIOA formula-funded programs under Executive Order 14278 on preparing Americans for high-paying skilled trade jobs. The departments say 180 waivers have been requested so far, with the aim of removing barriers, increasing innovation and improving coordination with education stakeholders.

State officials cited in the announcement say the combined plans are helping connect training investment with employer demand. Mississippi and Florida officials say adding Perkins V to their combined plans supports more integrated education and workforce systems, expands pathways into high-wage and high-demand sectors and helps build talent pipelines for regional economic growth.

Our earlier report on Senate Democrats’ push to preserve Bipartisan Infrastructure Law advance appropriations explained warnings of a 2026 transportation funding cliff if multiyear funding is not renewed. It detailed potential 67–90% program cuts affecting tens of thousands of projects and argued that a shift back to annual appropriations could raise costs, disrupt planning, and ripple through households and the broader economy.

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