The Labor Department (DOL) issued Training and Employment Notice (TEN) 25-24 on “Leveraging Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Waivers to Increase Labor Force Participation and Worker Productivity” that details four previously granted waivers DOL authorized from WIOA requirements that the Department believes will help grantees improved labor force participation rates and productivity. These waiver options include:
- A waiver allowing Local Workforce Development Boards to reimburse an employer up to 90% (instead of the normal 50%) of the wage rate of an on-the-job training (OJT) participant for the extraordinary costs of providing training and additional supervision. DOL notes that since March 2025 nine states have used this waiver.
- A waiver allowing Local Workforce Development Board to use up to 50% (instead of the normal 10%) of their Adult and Dislocated Worker allocations for transitional jobs. Since March 2025 only one state has used this waiver.
- A waiver allowing Local Workforce Development Boards to reserve up to 50% (instead of the normal 20%) of their Adult and Dislocated Worker allocations for Incumbent Worker Training. Since March, 2025 three states have used this waiver.
- A waiver allowing Local Workforce Development Boards to spend up to 50% (instead of the normal 75%) of WIOA Youth Funds on in-school youth (ISY), thereby providing additional work experience opportunities for ISY, including pre-apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship programs. Since March 2025 twenty-eight states have taken advantage of this waiver.