This document provides an overview of the Workforce Investment Act, which provides the framework for a national work force preparation and employment system designed to meet simultaneously the needs of the nation's businesses and of job seekers wishing to further their careers. The document begins with a brief summary of the act's five titles, which do the following: authorize the new work force investment system; reauthorize adult education and literacy programs; make employment service/job service activities become part of the "one-stop" system and establish a national employment statistics initiative; reauthorize Rehabilitation Act programs and link the programs to state and local work force development systems; and authorize state unified plans and incentive grants for work force development programs. Discussed in the document's remaining sections are the following: the new work force preparation and employment system's key features ("customer focus,""one-stop" approach, empowerment through training accounts, accountability); eligibility and service requirements affecting adults, dislocated workers, and youth served by the system; design and management of the new system (state and local work force investment boards, youth councils); funding; and implementation. Appended is a detailed comparison of the provisions of the Job Training Partnership Act and the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. (MN)