May 13, 2026
The U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Labor (DOL) today announced a major milestone in federal efforts to strengthen alignment across education and workforce systems. In a push to support greater coordination and improve outcomes for learners and workers, 21 states have now submitted combined Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) State Plans to address workforce challenges and employer needs, compared to just 9 states in 2024.
This action is a result of ED and DOL’s historic Workforce Development Partnership, streamlining and aligning key federal education and workforce programs to ease the burden on state workforce agencies and improve outcomes for workers and students. In April, both agencies jointly issued guidance encouraging states to include and integrate career and technical education (CTE) programs funded under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins V) in their combined WIOA State Plans. As a result, the number of combined plans nationwide has more than doubled, helping states streamline workforce planning, better align valuable credentials with in-demand jobs, reduce administrative burdens, and prepare for Workforce Pell Grant program implementation this summer.
