Project descriptionpurpose: 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)…

The South Carolina Department of Employment & Workforce received a formula grant award of $526,763 effective July 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028, under the Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities program (CFDA 17.207) administered by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. This grant funds the development and dissemination of labor market information (LMI) products and services to support workforce decision-making across multiple customer groups including job seekers, employers, American Job Center staff, educators, policymakers, and economic development professionals.

The primary deliverables under this award include the population and maintenance of a workforce information database, production of employment projections, generation of statewide economic analysis reports, and staff training for LMI personnel. These products are designed to provide job seekers, employers, and workforce intermediaries with accurate, actionable data to inform decisions regarding employment, career development, education, training, and career pathways leading to rapid reemployment and worker advancement. The grant program explicitly excludes direct training services, focusing instead on labor exchange mechanisms and career guidance through universal access employment services delivered via American Job Centers and local workforce development partnerships.

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.