Our Mission
The Division of Workforce Development coordinates a wide range of employment, training, education, childcare, welfare, economic development, and job growth programs on behalf of American Indian and Alaska Natives.
Who We Serve
The Division provides vocational training and employment assistance to Indians to improve skills; provides increased employment opportunities towards reducing reliance on welfare programs; develops policies, procedures, and standards for operation of the employment assistance and adult vocational training programs; provides guidance, technical advice, and assistance to Bureau agencies and field offices, tribes, and individual Indians; reviews and awards grants under the P.L. 102-477, as amended; and provides statistical performance information to funding agencies for inclusion in various reports.
Services We Provide
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About the Division of Workforce Development
The Bureau of Indian Affairs was established in 1824, originally as the Office of Indian Affairs under the War Department. It was created to handle relations with Native American tribes and oversee various aspects of their welfare, including trade, treaties, and land management. Over time, the BIA has developed, especially in its approach to workforce development, reflecting broader shifts in U.S. policy toward Native Americans.
A key period in workforce development arrived under the Termination Era, a time when federal policy aimed to assimilate Native people into mainstream American society. In 1956, Congress passed the Indian Adult Vocational Training Act, which laid the groundwork for what would become the Jobs, Placement, and Training (JPT) programs. These programs were initially overseen by the BIA’s Division of Employment and could be administered either by the BIA or by Tribes.
By the late 1960s and early 1970s, Federal Indian Policy shifted toward Indian self-determination, with new laws and presidential actions affirming tribal sovereignty and supporting tribal governance.
A major milestone came in 1992 with the passage of Public Law 102-477, which created a demonstration project allowing Tribes to consolidate employment, training, and related services from four federal agencies. This was a game-changer. In 1994, under the leadership of Assistant Secretary Dr. Eddie F. Brown, the Division of Job Placement and Training was moved to the Office of Economic Development, alongside Financial Assistance and Indian Business Utilization.
That same year, the Tribal Self-Governance Act of 1994 further empowered Tribes by allowing them to take control of federal programs and funding—strengthening the government-to-government relationship and advancing the policy of self-determination.
In 2017, the passage of Public Law 115-93 made the 477 program permanent and expanded the number of participating federal agencies from four to twelve. This significantly increased the resources available to Tribes for integrating employment and training services.
In 2000, PL 477 was amended, allowing Tribes to reallocate up to 25% of their consolidated funds for economic development and job creation. This linked workforce development directly to economic opportunity.
Today, the Job Placement and Training Program can be administered by either the BIA or tribal service providers. Tribes can choose to operate these programs through PL 93-638 contracts or Self-Governance compacts, and many continue to consolidate services under the 477 framework.
Throughout all these changes, one thing has remained constant: the BIA’s commitment to supporting tribal workforce development. Whether through direct services or tribal administration, our goal is to provide meaningful job training and employment opportunities that empower individuals, strengthen families, and build prosperous tribal communities.
