Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) services for In-School and Out-of-School Youth include a Work-Based Learning (WBL) Program which promotes the development of occupational skills through worksite instruction and well-supervised job tasks in a structured paid work experience. Participants are evaluated on their work maturity and basic skills. All participants receive soft skills training prior to entering the work experience. Work-Based Learning is an integral part of the overall services available for young adults.
The WBL program focuses on enrolling WIOA eligible Out-of-School Youth (OSY), and In-School Youth (ISY) limited to High School Juniors and Seniors. In-school youth may be enrolled for summer work experience, part-time work experience, or a WBL internship while still attending school. Participants are assigned to a worksite based on an assessment of their skills and interests. WBL job assignments are for up to 390 hours with a participant not working more than 32 hours per week. The pay range for the program varies based on the type of job assigned and the Local Workforce Development Area.
The WBL program offers local Alabama businesses a way to train potential future employees with industry specific training at no cost to the business. Businesses that participate in the WBL program are eligible to receive reimbursement for up to 390 hours of a participant’s wages. Upon completion of the WBL program businesses are provided the opportunity to hire the WBL participant on full time under the WIOA On-the-Job Training program (https://wioa-alabama.org/on-the-job-training/).