The Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds programs that connect and assist job seekers with training, support, and education services so that they can find and maintain employment. Services funded by WIOA will be available to job seekers of all ages, including the chronically unemployed, the disabled, displaced workers, and opportunity youth, who are 16 to 24 year olds who are neither employed nor in school. These job seekers can receive a range of supports, including training that can improve or teach technical skills, connections to actual jobs and employers, and workplace readiness development for those with limited employment histories. The legislation also aims to promote better alignment among the workforce, education, and economic development systems. This brief provides background on the law, highlights why it is important, explains how it is implemented, and investigates its effectiveness. [Foreword by Melissa Ehlinger. The brief was created in partnership with the Baptist Community Ministries and the New Orleans Business Alliance.]