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Regional and Local Unified Workforce Plan PY 2025-2028 <br />May 20, 2025 <br />Page 2 <br />5 <br />0 <br />2 <br />6 <br />Pursuant to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the development of <br />regional and local workforce plans is required, in part, to ensure that these plans remain <br />current and responsive to evolving labor market conditions, economic shifts, and other <br />factors that may influence the successful implementation of the local plan (29 U.S. Code <br />§3123). The plans are developed every four years and updated at the mid-point of the <br />four year planning cycle to ensure they remain relevant, effective, and responsive to <br />evolving workforce needs and economic conditions. <br />The California Unified Strategic Workforce Development Plan (State Plan) is an <br />overarching state policy document that provides a conceptual outline for Local <br />Workforce Development Boards and their partners as they jointly develop regional and <br />local plans. The State Plan policy objectives, developed in collaboration with WIOA <br />partners and Local Workforce Development Boards, advance a shared vision of <br />establishing a comprehensive workforce system that addresses poverty, promotes <br />upward economic mobility, and integrates equity as a foundational principle of service <br />delivery. <br />As outlined under WIOA Section 106, Regional Plans provide a roadmap for alignment <br />of resources and investments to meet specific outcomes within the 15 Regional <br />Planning Units (RPU). Regional Plans serve to outline how RPUs will strategically <br />engage with key industry sectors, coordinate workforce development efforts across <br />multiple jurisdictions, and enhance access to career pathways for individuals facing <br />barriers to employment. <br />Guidance for Local Plans is provided in Section 108 of WIOA, which requires Local <br />Plans to present an action-oriented framework for implementing the strategies outlined <br />in the Regional Plan. Specifically, Local Plans must describe how individuals access <br />services through the local America’s Job Center of California system and detail how <br />Local Workforce Development Boards will coordinate with local partners to ensure the <br />delivery of person-centered services. <br />Five years after the onset of the global pandemic, the economy continues to recover <br />and gradually return to pre-pandemic conditions. However, for communities that have <br />historically faced barriers to employment, the pandemic-induced recession has <br />deepened existing disparities and further intensified long-standing economic inequities. <br />The State Board issued Directive WSD 24-09 that provides guidance to Local <br />Workforce Development Boards on the requirements associated in preparation of the <br />Regional and Local Plans. <br />In alignment with the State Plan, the draft Regional and Unified Local Plans (Exhibits 1 <br />and 2) focus on the development of partnerships to create a coordinated service <br />delivery approach to targeted populations, including individuals with barriers to <br />employment and hard to serve populations.