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 North Carolina Department of Commerce, Workforce Solutions Division received $838,330 in formula grant funding from the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) under the Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities program (CFDA 17.207). The award, effective July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028, supports the development and dissemination of essential state and local labor market information (LMI) to serve seven customer groups: job seekers, business employers, workforce intermediaries (including American Job Center staff), program and service planners, policymakers, economic development partners, and other stakeholders including researchers and media representatives.

Under this award, the grantee must maintain a workforce information database and produce two required public products: employment projections and a statewide economic analysis report, with discretion to develop additional reports and data products in various formats. All products must contain accurate, actionable information and resources enabling data users to make informed decisions regarding employment, training, education, and career pathway strategies. The program expects to deliver sufficient labor market information to support informed decision-making by job seekers, employers, American Job Center staff, state and local workforce boards, policymakers, students, academic researchers, and other LMI users. The grantee must also ensure adequate training for LMI staff and may utilize sub-recipients to support statewide service delivery through the workforce development network.

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.