Blog

Today, America Forward and Results for America co-published two policy briefs emphasizing the importance of elevating evidence-based strategies and ongoing, intentional evidence-building under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Our public workforce system currently invests only a small proportion of funding in workforce development strategies proven to drive stronger economic outcomes for workers, employers, and our economy, and provides limited support for rigorous innovation and evaluation. Now, policymakers have the opportunity to shift funding structures and leverage the growing body of evidence on effective workforce programs, ranging from sectoral approaches to employment social enterprises.

The first brief, Setting the Right Standard, lays out a framework for a strong definition of “evidence-based” strategies under WIOA that ensures workers are well-served and the public receives a strong return on public workforce investments. Federal programs have used numerous, distinct definitions of “evidence-based” across areas from home visiting to reemployment. Key technical differences in these definitions make a major difference in implementation by determining funding eligibility, shaping state and local planning, and setting the stage for ongoing evidence-building. 

Key takeaways from this piece include:

• Congress should incorporate a governing, statutory definition of “evidence-based” strategies in WIOA. Ideally, this definition will set the stage for an aligned evidence-based framework across education and workforce programs and agencies to streamline program reviews and strengthen coordination. DOL could also take administrative action now.

• Policymakers should move beyond the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) 2015 “evidence-based” definition. Last year’s bipartisan, bicameral bill to reauthorize WIOA, the A Stronger Workforce for America Act, would have adopted the “evidence-based” definition established for K-12 programs in ESSA. However, a decade of implementation shows significant limitations to the ESSA approach. For instance, ESSA’s criteria of “evidence-based” include interventions with only preliminary research and rely on a single positive study, neglecting the full body of evidence. 

• Adopt a new definition of “evidence-based” that builds on DOL’s evidence standards under the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program. As the brief lays out, policymakers should incorporate key design elements such as emphasizing the full body of evidence on programs and emphasizing relevant, important outcomes (e.g., earnings gains). In addition, we suggest incorporating a complementary “evidence-building program” definition to better distinguish programs with demonstrated promise and a strong rationale but are not yet proven as “evidence-based” strategies. 
• WIOA should also invest in complementary resources and technical assistance that make evidence-based practice and evidence-building more accessible for providers and practitioners.

The second brief, Promoting Innovation in Workforce Development, makes the case for a Workforce Development Innovation Fund. Building on similar evidence funds across policy areas, this model would enable federal investments to scale-up leading evidence-based workforce approaches, while also testing new and innovative practices to grow the evidence base over time. 

Highlights from this piece include:

• WIOA must demonstrate stronger outcomes. While some WIOA-supported investments, such as YouthBuild, have shown positive outcomes, too often WIOA falls short of improving outcomes. An Innovation Fund will better leverage taxpayer dollars by investing in proven strategies, as well as ensuring the workforce system is nimble and able to adapt to changing workforce environments. 
• An Innovation Fund supports a range of innovation and investment. The Innovation Fund would support grants ranging from early-phase grants to develop, test, and rigorously evaluate innovative approaches, to expansion grants to scale up and assess interventions supported by a high level of evidence.

• Building the evidence base. The Innovation Fund should emphasize increasing earnings and employment among participants, while tracking cost-effectiveness and credential attainment. A portion of all grant awards would support efforts to assess the effectiveness of investments.

• There is bipartisan support for an Innovation Fund. In 2021, U.S. Representatives Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) and David McKinley (R-WV) introduced the Expanding Pathways to Employment Act, which would authorize an innovation fund for workforce development. Senator Michael Bennet  (D-CO) introduced a follow-up bill, the Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act, in 2024.

These briefs set the stage for action as Congress continues efforts to reauthorize WIOA, following the near-passage of the bicameral, bipartisan A Stronger Workforce for America Act (ASWA) last year. These publications can also inform new administrative action, building on efforts at the Department of Labor to support innovative, evidence-focused approaches, whether through the new America’s Talent Strategy in partnership with the Departments of Education and Commerce or through recently-announced waiver opportunities.