The workforce innovation system plays an integral role in the revitalization of Illinois’ economy. Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, a heightened emphasis has been placed on providing trained job seekers for demand occupations to meet the needs of employers in key sectors. To support this role, the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board (IWIB) approved the Illinois Unified State Plan for Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Wagner-Peyser Act that focuses on economic growth, job creation, and the need to develop a skilled, trained workforce throughout the state.

Illinois’ Unified State Plan builds on a history of a demand-driven system that places an emphasis on the training of job seekers and workers. In 2006 the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board developed the minimum training expenditure policy that required each local workforce investment area to expend at least forty percent (40%) of the formula Workforce Investment Act funds on the training activities outlined in the policy.

In 2016, the IWIB approved the creation of a workgroup to review and update this policy. The first change approved by the IWIB was the change of the formula from independent calculations for the Adult and Dislocated Worker programs. The workgroup has identified the expenditures associated with the training-related services that can be included as “calculable” in the formula. This policy outlines that list of training services that will count toward the minimum training expenditure level, as well as increases the minimum training expenditure to fifty percent (50%).