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

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry received a $24.98 million Formula Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration under the Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities program (CFDA 17.207), awarded July 1, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2028. This universal access program delivers employment services to job seekers and employers throughout Pennsylvania by providing career services including job search assistance, career assessments, labor market information, and referrals to employment opportunities. Employers utilize the program to post job orders, identify qualified applicants, and obtain recruitment support for hard-to-fill positions.

The Department of Labor & Industry may subaward portions of funding to local workforce development boards and community-based organizations to conduct labor market information research and deliver direct services such as career interest assessments, career guidance, job search workshops, and employment referrals. The program explicitly excludes training services and focuses on rapid workforce reentry and efficient labor exchange mechanisms. Services are available without eligibility restrictions to all individuals seeking employment support or employers requiring recruitment assistance.

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.