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

The Illinois Department of Employment Security received a Formula Grant award of $26.2 million from the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration under the Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities program (CFDA 17.207), effective July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028. This award supports universal access employment services designed to connect job seekers with employment opportunities and assist employers in identifying qualified candidates. The program delivers a comprehensive range of labor exchange services to all individuals without eligibility restrictions, including job search assistance, career assessments, career guidance, labor market information, job referrals, and placement support. Services to employers include job order posting, applicant screening and matching, recruitment support for hard-to-fill positions, and assistance with workforce transitions such as layoff support.

Through this grant, Illinois may subaward funds to conduct labor market information research and provide specialized services such as career interest assessments, career counseling, job search workshops, and training referrals. The program explicitly excludes direct training delivery, instead focusing on rapid workforce reentry and efficient employer-candidate matching through the state's American Job Centers and workforce development partnerships. The three-year funding period allows recipients to obligate and expend formula allocations during the program year and the succeeding two years, providing flexibility in service delivery implementation across Illinois.

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.