OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) — Workforce leaders say Oklahoma is reorganizing ahead of federal changes to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the nation’s primary workforce funding law.
“WIOA generally funds most of what people think of as the workforce system. And it has been up for reauthorization for many years,” said Kyla Guyette, CEO of the Oklahoma Workforce Commission. WIOA funds job and workforce training, employment services, youth programs, vocational rehabilitation, dislocated worker services and industry services.
At the federal level, the House passed a bipartisan WIOA reauthorization bill in 2024, but Congress has not yet enacted a final law.
In the meantime, recent U.S. Department of Labor guidance encourages states to use waivers to expand transitional jobs, incumbent worker training and on‑the‑job training reimbursements, among other flexibilities—steps Oklahoma officials say they are preparing to leverage.
“I think we’re finally going to see some changes happen. WIOA is going to have some significant impacts and changes to how we deliver services and the way that we organize ourselves. Oklahoma is trying to get ahead of that curve so that we are best positioned when those new laws pass. It’s going to be the Oklahoma model instead of the federal model.”
The Oklahoma model
Oklahoma’s draft package of WIOA waivers aims to simplify governance and speed services statewide. Highlights include:
- Single local area with the State Board serving locally. Oklahoma would operate as one workforce area and seat the Governor’s workforce board as the local board to streamline budgeting, decision‑making and accountability.
- Performance and operational flexibilities during transition. Temporary relief to recalibrate baselines and avoid distorted performance data while the statewide restructure is implemented.
- Training contracts alongside ITAs. Broader use of training contracts—in addition to Individual Training Accounts—to support employer‑led, cohort and sector models that respond to real‑time demand.
- American Job Center service redesign and a statewide MOU/IFA. A standardized cost‑sharing framework, blended in‑person/virtual access, and simplified intake to reduce friction for jobseekers and employers.
- ETPL alignment for state‑developed apprenticeships. Clean pathways for state‑created Registered Apprenticeship programs to appear on the Eligible Training Provider List so participants can use WIOA training funds.
- Reduce duplicative administration. Consolidate overlapping functions to move more dollars to front‑line service and training.
Oklahoma has already centralized WIOA accountability at the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and housed the state Office of Workforce Development there—groundwork for the shift described above.
Next steps
The two‑year WIOA State Plan modification is posted for public comment March 12–April 12, 2026. Stakeholders are invited to review the draft and submit comments through the state’s official online form.
Trae Rahill, CEO of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, said execution will hinge on partnership. “There are lots of opportunities for us to serve people better through these various programs. A lot of the opportunity exists in better partnership and closer collaboration between the groups that do the work.”
He added that federal guidance gives states “a chance to design it ourselves and mandate partnership. We’re coming up with our own design. It’ll be better for Oklahoma businesses, and I think that’s what we’re focused on.”
