Harnessing the Power of Evidence and Data to Improve Workforce Outcomes
As Congress considers the reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Results for America has developed a slate of resources that highlight key policy proposals to advance evidence and data in federal workforce policy. This site will be regularly updated to include fresh insights and analysis of evidence and evaluation provisions in workforce grants coming out of federal agencies and related resources.
2026 Policy Recommendations
These policy recommendations build on RFA’s Moneyball for Workforce Development Policy Report and our joint recommendations for WIOA reauthorization in partnership with America Forward; they will direct resources toward proven programs, promote investments in evaluation, and improve workforce data infrastructure.
Policy Briefs
- Stronger Outcomes by Design: Supporting Performance-Based Contracting under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. [Summary and Brief]
Publ. July 2026
This guide and analysis examines why performance-based contracting isn’t more widely used in the workforce system, and offers solutions that Congress & the Department of Labor can implement right now. - Building Learning Into Grant Design: How Federal Work-Based Learning Programs Structure Continuous Improvement. [Catalog]
Publ. June 2026
This catalog presents a comprehensive review of competitive federal grant programs that support work-based learning. It covers 64 Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) issued between FY 2020–FY 2025 across 12 federal agencies, representing nearly $4 billion in competitive funding. - Setting the Right Standard: The Need for a Stronger Definition of “Evidence-Based” in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. [PDF] Publ. January 2025
This brief shows how weak or inconsistent evidence standards can reduce accountability and limit the impact of taxpayer dollars. It calls for stronger, and clearer evidence standards under WIOA that steers funding toward proven strategies and supports rigorous evaluation to improve workforce outcomes. - Promoting Innovation in Workforce Development
[PDF] Publ. January 2025
The brief calls for a Workforce Development Innovation Fund to test and scale innovative strategies and support rigorous evaluation to improve worker training.