The U.S. Department of Labor’s TEGL 05-25 is essentially a nudge—one that tells the workforce system: you already have room to innovate, and now is the time to use it. Instead of adding new rules, it highlights the flexibility built into WIOA and encourages everyone—states, boards, and front-line teams—to modernize how we help workers and employers.
At its heart, the guidance is about making the system faster, more responsive, and more aligned with what employers and job seekers actually need.
It encourages agencies to take a fresh look at old policies and processes and ask, “Is this still helping us?” If not, the TEGL makes it clear that waivers and other flexibilities are available to redesign things. Local boards get stronger support to lead employer-driven solutions, support new training models, and remove barriers that slow down good ideas. And for front-line staff, it signals a shift toward simpler processes, more flexibility in day-to-day decisions, and a focus on real outcomes—good jobs, better wages, and meaningful skills.
You can start using this guidance right away by noticing where the system gets in its own way—things that complicate enrollment, slow down training, or make employer partnerships harder than they need to be. Bring those issues forward. This TEGL exists so you can push for fixes, test new approaches, and build a system that works better for the people you serve.
The full guidance is available here:
TEGL 05-25 → https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/advisories/TEGL/2025/TEGL%2005-25/TEGL%2005-25%20%28001%29.pdf