The AFL-CIO Working for America Institute (WAI) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) national workforce intermediary organization that assists unions, employers, workforce intermediary partnerships, the workforce system, and community organizations by advocating for and providing employment and training related services that help to create, expand and retain high quality jobs.
The WAI works with AFL-CIO institutions (more than 600 state labor federations, local labor councils, and the Industrial Union Council) and unions, employers, workforce boards, and apprenticeship officials to increase the effectiveness of economic development and workforce systems.
The Institute emphasizes:
- sustaining the national network of workforce intermediary partnerships;
- increasing the availability of work-based learning and worker-centered employment and training services, including high-quality registered apprenticeships;
- developing work-based learning and multiple career pathways for youth, and;
- supporting active participation of unions and workforce intermediary partnerships in the federal workforce development system.
