The Campaign to Invest in America’s Workforce (CIAW)
The Campaign to Invest in America’s Workforce (CIAW) is a coalition of national and regional organizations that offer direct services, advocacy, research, and policy development to help people of all ages develop the skills and support they need to successfully enter gainful employment.
CIAW calls for greater and more effective federal investments in our nation’s public workforce development system so more employers can find the skilled workers they need to grow their businesses and compete globally. These efforts have an enormous effect on the economy: the federal investment in workforce development leads to an estimated $66 billion in wages earned by those who become employed.
What We Do
CIAW advocates for the highest possible federal investment in workforce development initiatives. During our monthly meetings, we share information and develop strategies for working with Congress and the Executive branch. We also write coalition letters, have guest speakers from Congress and the Administration, and conduct Hill visits as a group. We welcome national and regional organizations to join us.
Why Do We Need a Public Workforce Development System?
As of April 2025, there are 7.2 million unemployed people in the United States, many with significant barriers to employment such as limited education, people with disabilities, dislocated workers, older workers, returning service members, language and/or cultural barriers, those who have been out of the workforce for a prolonged period, and people who have been involved with the justice system.
We need a robust array of skill-building programs that can help all of these workers train for emerging jobs, continue to learn on the job, and advance in careers that help them support their families.
At the same time, there are about the same number of unfilled jobs in America, which leads to lost productivity, lack of business growth, and a reduction in US competitiveness. The public workforce development system is a win for both jobseekers and employers.