WOTC Works: Extend and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit

State Workforce Agencies have issued nearly 10 million WOTC certifications over the last 5 years, helping individuals facing barriers to employment obtain good-paying jobs and supporting local economies. Our interactive analysis below is based on published DOL data and shows WOTC's impact in each state. For more information on WOTC and the urgency surrounding its renewal, check out our Call to Action page.

How we estimate WOTC value

In general, the maximum credit is $2,400 per hire for most target groups ($9,600 for certain qualified veterans). Not every certification results in a credit, because some employees don't reach the minimum retention period and therefore don't generate any value. Based on the HIRE Coalition's experience, we estimate the average certification value is $1,200. Adjust the dollar amount to see updated analytics.

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State executive summary

Choose from the menu or click any two-letter code below it. Get a one-page summary of what WOTC means for a state's employers and job seekers, built from the FY 2020–2024 figures on this page.

Which states have an Empowerment Zone and/or Rural Renewal County?

Certifications by target group

Rank states by target group

Click a column to sort · click a row to show that state on the map and in the detail above

Sources. U.S. Department of Labor ETA, WOTC Certifications by Recipient Group, State and National Details, FY 2020–FY 2024 annual reports (State Total rows). Only State Total rows are used; quarterly figures, pending actions, denials and workload are excluded. Veterans combines the five veteran target groups. In four state-years (Maine FY 2022, Nevada FY 2023 and FY 2024, Pennsylvania FY 2024) the reported target-group counts add up to more than the reported certification total; both are shown as published, and target-group shares use the sum of target groups as the base. DCR is the Designated Community Resident target group, which applies to residents of Empowerment Zones and Rural Renewal Counties. Empowerment Zones and Rural Renewal Counties per IRS Instructions for Form 8850 (Rev. 03/2021); zones spanning two states (Philadelphia/Camden, St. Louis/East St. Louis, Huntington/Ironton) are counted under both.

Version: November 11, 2026 (state picker v3).

"Nearly 10 million" refers to 9,831,877 WOTC certifications issued in FY 2020–FY 2024.

Estimated value multiplies FY 2020–2024 certifications by an assumed average credit per certification (default $1,200). It is an illustrative estimate, not a reported credit amount; certifications do not all convert to claimed credits.