The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA) requires the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to conduct periodic, independent evaluations to inform the effective operation of WIOA programs and services. To support the development of DOL's research portfolio, this scan examines existing evidence on four key topics related to WIOA programs and services: case management, integrated service delivery, training programs, and youth services. For each of the four topics, the brief describes associated strategies, reviews existing evidence on the effectiveness of those strategies, and identifies the gaps in the evidence base.

The scan suggests several key gaps in the evidence:

• Research indicates that the receipt of case management can improve employment and earnings in a workforce development setting. However, little is known about which services or elements of case management are responsible for positive impacts.
• There have been a number of efforts and strategies implemented to improve integration of workforce services — many documented in implementation and descriptive studies — but there is limited rigorous evidence on the effect of integrated services that are closely related to WIOA.
• Recent evaluations of career pathways and sector-based training show promising findings, but further evidence is needed to understand the impact of some work-based learning strategies implemented under WIOA.
• Research has identified several effective training models for youth, particularly those that include some combination of work experience and supportive services in addition to training. The evidence on interventions serving specific populations of youth is limited and finds mixed results, and it does not always examine interventions provided exclusively to these populations.