Governor Haley Barbour took office in 2004 and worked with Mississippi's State Legislature to craft new workforce legislation, "The Mississippi Comprehensive Workforce Training and Education Act of 2004." The legislation reformed Mississippi's workforce system by consolidating employment and training programs into one new executive agency, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. The act also created the State Workforce Investment Board, merging the State WIA Board with the Community College Workforce Development Board.

SWIB is designed to be business-led, with a majority of its members selected from businesses. It also includes legislators, local area workforce leaders, and heads of public agencies involved with workforce and economic development.

Governor Barbour charged SWIB with this vision:

Centralize and streamline workforce training functions
Maximize and leverage all workforce training funds
Raise the education and skill level of Mississippi workers
Create job opportunities