Congress' passage ofthe WorkforceInvestment Act inAugust 1998 resulted ina transformation of jobtraining and employmentservices, effectivelyreplacing the JobTraining Partnership Actsystem. The purpose ofthe Act, as provided in 29 USC 2821, is to "provideworkforce investment activities, through statewide andlocal workforce investment systems, that increase theemployment, retention, and earnings of participants, andincrease occupational skill attainment by participants,and, as a result, improve the quality of the workforce,reduce welfare dependency, and enhance theproductivity and competitiveness of the Nation." theAct further states that the "Governor of a State shallestablish a State workforce investment board to assistin the development of the state plan" and to carry outother functions.
Each state board must include the Governor, membersof the legislature, and gubernatorial appointees who arebusiness owners, business executives, elected officials,representatives of labor organizations, individuals withexperience in youth activities, state agency officials,and any other appropriate representatives, asdetermined by the Governor.
