The purpose of the ES program is to bring together individuals looking for employment and employers looking for job seekers

The Employment and Training Administration awarded $11.2 million in formula grant funding to the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (doing business as the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development) for Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities (CFDA 17.207). The award, effective July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028, supports universal access employment services and labor market information activities available to all job seekers and employers across Missouri. Core services include job search assistance, career counseling, skills assessments, job referral and placement services, labor market information dissemination, and employer recruitment support through American Job Centers and local workforce development partnerships.

The grantee may subaward portions of these funds to local workforce development boards, community organizations, and nonprofit entities to deliver direct services including assessments of career interests, career guidance, job search workshops, and referrals to employment or training opportunities. The program explicitly excludes direct training services and focuses instead on labor exchange mechanisms designed to facilitate rapid workforce reentry and efficient matching of job seekers with employers, with particular emphasis on serving individuals facing barriers to employment and veteran populations.

Activities

The ES is a universal access program that provides services to all individuals who need services. Allowable services include assessments of career interests, career guidance when appropriate, job search workshops, and referral to jobs or training as appropriate. Services offered to employers include referral of job seekers to job openings matching job requirements with applicants experience, skills and other attributes helping with special recruitment needs assisting employers with hard-to-fill job orders assisting with job restructuring and helping employers assist laid-off workers. Training services are not provided and not allowable under ES program.

Expected outcomes

The ES program outcomes are to ensure that individuals are able to access and receive the services they need to overcome barriers to employment and reenter the workforce system as quickly as possible.

Intended beneficiaries

This is a universal access program that is available to all individuals.

Subrecipient activities

The grantees may subaward funds to conduct LMI research as well as the provision of specific services such as assessments of career interests, career guidance, job search workshops, referral to jobs or training as appropriate, and others.