Washington’s Workforce Plan: WIOA Combined State Plan

Leaders from business and labor guide the Workforce Board’s strategic planning work.

The Workforce Board is focused on strategic planning that helps workers find quality jobs and connects employers with skilled workers.

In 2024, Washington’s Talent and Prosperity for All (TAP) Plan served as our state’s federally required, four-year workforce plan under the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The plan shows how multiple state and local partners coordinate services, align strategies, and support a stronger, more connected workforce system. Washington submits a combined plan because our workforce, education, and human services programs work closely together and share many customers. The federal government requires states to update their plans every two years, and Washington will submit its update in April 2026.

Since 2024, the economy, labor market, and federal requirements have continued to shift. For the 2026 update, Washington refined its statewide strategies.

How the plan has evolved

Over the past two years, the Workforce Board and system partners moved from a broad set of priorities toward a more focused set of objectives. This shift reflects what we learned during implementation, new federal guidance, and the practical realities facing students, job seekers, employers and providers.

This refinement builds on the intent of the 2024 TAP Plan. It sharpens the state’s direction and concentrates effort where it can have the greatest impact.

What we accomplished in Phase 1

In 2024, cross agency workgroups conducted foundational research and system scans that shaped this update:

• Service integration: Interviews with more than 130 staff statewide to understand how customers move through the system.
• Data integration: Progress on shared data and technology deliverables aligned with available funding.
• Youth services: A statewide catalog of youth programs and service models.
• Job quality: A draft statewide job quality framework for industry and stakeholder input.
• Performance and accountability: An inventory of available data and a framework for understanding system performance.
• Industry engagement: Identification of policy and program areas where coordination and accessibility can be strengthened.

This groundwork, combined with federal changes such as HR1 (SNAP and Medicaid work requirements) and the introduction of Workforce Pell, positioned the Board to narrow the state’s focus.

Washington’s four objectives for the remainder of the planning cycle

1. Implement Workforce Pell to expand access to high-quality, short-term training.
2. Implement No Wrong Door (dependent on funding), working with state and local partners to help people meet HR1 work requirements for SNAP and Medicaid.
3. Connect service integration to performance to create systemwide feedback loops.
4. Deliver cross-industry, demand-driven recommendations through strengthened industry engagement and analysis.

These objectives maintain continuity with the TAP strategic priorities.

2026 WIOA Combined Plan Modification

Washington’s 2026 modification incorporates new federal requirements, emerging opportunities, and the lessons learned from Phase 1. The modification is now available for public review and comment.

Learn more about public comment.