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

The North Carolina Department of Commerce, Workforce Solutions Division received a formula grant award of $19.17 million from the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) under the Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities program (CFDA 17.207). Awarded on July 1, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2028, this grant funds universal access employment services and labor market information activities throughout North Carolina. The program delivers job seekers with career services including assessments, career guidance, job search workshops, labor exchange services, workforce information, and job referrals. Employers receive recruitment support, job order posting, candidate matching services, and assistance with special recruitment needs and hard-to-fill positions. Training services are explicitly excluded from this program; instead, the focus remains on rapid workforce reentry and efficient labor exchange mechanisms.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce administers these services through a statewide network of JobLink Career Centers and local workforce development partnerships, including regional councils of governments such as the Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments and Lumber River Council of Governments, which serve as subrecipients. These partner organizations coordinate the delivery of employment and career services to ensure individuals can access the support necessary to overcome employment barriers and reconnect with the workforce system. The program's universal access design serves all job seekers and employers without eligibility restrictions, with priority extended to veterans and other covered 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.