The goals of the Workforce Innovation Act of 2000 to consolidate administration, develop performance measures and standards, unify management information systems, and increase employer participation have generally been met. In addition, Wagner-Peyser services are being integrated at one-stop career centers.

• The state-level Workforce Development Board and WAGES Program State Board were merged and the regional workforce boards and local WAGES coalitions were consolidated, resulting in less administration.
• The Workforce Development System performance was mixed. The system met standards for most performance measures and helped participants get jobs within a year. However, many participants had trouble keeping jobs and those that did keep their jobs earned low wages, primarily because participants lacked basic skills to perform the work. Just half of the participants had a high school diploma and about 30% did not complete high school. Only 40% of participants complete the education and training that is recommended through the one-stop career centers. Workforce Florida, Inc., should work with regional boards and education providers to increase participant completion rates, expand the use of individual training accounts for basis skills, and raise the wage rate performance standards over a multi-year period.
• A unified management information system is being developed to enhance the one-stop career centers' ability to integrate services and provide a common customer intake and eligibility determination process. This management information system should be fully operational May 2003.
• Employer participation in the Workforce Development System has increased; however, many employers are unaware of workforce services and do not use the program to fill job vacancies. While the system is taking actions to increase awareness and participation, these efforts may produce conflicts with private staffing firms that have served this market. Workforce Florida, Inc., should work with regional workforce boards to develop agreements with private staffing firms to clearly identify their roles and activities.

Wagner-Peyser services have been co-located at one-stop career centers and the Agency for Workforce Innovation and the regional workforce boards are taking additional steps for further integration. For example, workforce regions are cross-training employees about various workforce programs and services. However, federal regulations limit further integration by restricting the use of federal funds and requiring publicly funded merit system employees to provide Wagner-Peyser services. Workforce Florida, Inc., should continue to petition the U. S. Department of Labor for a waiver to these requirements.