The New York City Workforce Investment Board

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"The members and staff of the Workforce Investment Board play a concrete role in helping to make New York a city of greater opportunity. Everyone is dedicated to opening doors a little wider for people who want to improve their lives. I get tremendous satisfaction knowing that I’m a part of something that is improving the economic health of our City."

Horace Barker, WIB Vice Chairman
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney

The New York City Workforce Investment Board (WIB) was formed in response to the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 to establish policies and provide oversight for an array of employment and training services. The WIB and the New York City workforce programs it oversees are funded primarily from Federal WIA appropriations.

The year 2003 marked the beginning of a dramatic change in the way the WIB functions. Mayor Bloomberg, with the support of the City Council, eliminated the Department of Employment and merged adult workforce programs into the Department of Small Business Services and youth workforce programs into the Department of Youth and Community Development. This reorganization provided an opportunity to significantly strengthen the Workforce Investment Board's ability to effectively oversee these programs, resulting in an aggressive agenda to build a high performing, accountable, demand-driven workforce system.

Labor and Social Security Department
WIB and SBS host Delegation from Labor and Social Security Department of the
Fujian Province in China, March, 2011.

The Mayor appointed Executive Director, Marilyn Shea recognized nationally for workforce expertise. Similarly, staff and agency capacity were increased to support the Board, and new Board members representing a broader range of knowledge and experience were recruited. The WIB then began the development of its first-ever strategic plan, guided by highly regarded leaders in workforce development. The resulting strategic plan (in PDF) identified three primary roles for the Board as a leader in the workforce system:

1. To conduct effective oversight of the City's Workforce Investment Act programs
2. To focus on workforce challenges in the City's key employment sectors
3. To provide stakeholders with critical information on New York City's workforce and economy

The plan also established a committee structure aimed at enabling members to focus more efficiently on specific Board roles.

As a result of these changes, New York City's recruitment, screening, and training programs respond directly to business needs. Now an ever increasing number of New Yorkers are being connected to jobs, and businesses are saving time and money.