High Road WIOA: Building Higher Job Quality into Workforce Development

Training investments in low-wage sectors are often undermined by unsafe job conditions, unpredictable hours, and wage theft. By directing resources from the federal Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (WIOA) toward high road employers, localities can improve job quality and workforce development systems. This report proposes requiring employers to meet specific standards related to wages, benefits, and job stability before receiving WIOA funds, and suggests that workforce boards avoid supporting employers with histories of wage theft and non-compliance.