Develop and disseminate essential state and local labor market information (LMI) for a range of customer groups: 1) job seekers 2) businesses employers 3) workforce and labor market intermediaries…

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) awarded the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry a Formula Grant of $985,590 under the Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities program (CFDA 17.207) for the period July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028. This award funds the development and dissemination of essential state and local labor market information (LMI) designed to serve diverse customer groups including job seekers, employers, workforce intermediaries at American Job Centers, educational institutions, policymakers, economic development entities, and the media.

Under this award, the Department of Labor & Industry must populate and maintain a workforce information database, produce employment projections and a statewide economic analysis report, and ensure adequate training for LMI staff. The grantee has discretion to produce additional reports and data products beyond these core requirements, provided they contain accurate data and actionable information to enable informed decision-making regarding reemployment, work-based learning, training, and career pathway strategies. The expected outcome is that LMI users will possess sufficient information to make informed decisions regarding employment, careers, education, and training opportunities that support rapid reemployment and worker advancement toward high-demand, higher-wage positions.

Purpose

The purpose of this grant is to develop and disseminate essential state and local labor market information (LMI) for a range of customer groups: 1) job seekers 2) businesses employers 3) workforce and labor market intermediaries such as employment, school, and career counselors, and case managers at american job centers, who help individuals find a job or make career decisions, or engage businesses seeking skilled workers 4) program and service planners at educational institutions and community-based organizations 5) policy makers, including state and local workforce development boards 6) partners, such as economic development entities and human resource professionals and 7) other customers, including recipients of workforce development grants, researchers, commercial data providers, and the media.

Activities

Grantees must populate and maintain a workforce information database, produce two types of public products (employment projections and a statewide economic analysis report), and ensure LMI staff are adequately trained. ETA also encourages grantees to produce other reports and data in addition to those required. Grantees have wide discretion in both the topics and presentation format. These reports should include accurate data, actionable information, and resources that enable data users to make informed decisions about the reemployment, work-based learning, training, and career pathways strategies that lead to rapid reemployment and worker advancement along a continuum of high-demand and higher wage jobs.

Expected outcomes

By performing these duties users of LMI will have sufficient information to make informed decisions regarding employment, careers, education, and training.

Intended beneficiaries

Job seekers, employers, staff in american job centers, state and local workforce boards, national state local policy makers, students, academic researchers, labor market analysts, and other users of LMI.

Subrecipient activities

A state may use wigs funding to work with a subrecipient to conduct a study or research an LMI topic when a state LMI office does not have sufficient staffing or knowledge to conduct the work themselves.