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

The Delaware Department of Labor's Division of Employment and Training received a $3.97 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). The award, effective July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028, supports universal access employment services and labor market information (LMI) products designed to connect job seekers with employment opportunities and assist employers in recruiting qualified candidates. Core services delivered to job seekers include career interest assessments, career guidance, job search workshops, labor exchange services, job referrals, and workforce information. Employer services encompass job order posting, applicant matching based on qualifications and experience, recruitment assistance for hard-to-fill positions, job restructuring support, and assistance with laid-off worker placement.

As authorized under the program, the Division of Employment and Training may subaward portions of grant funds to support LMI research and specific service delivery activities through local workforce development agencies and community-based partners. The program explicitly excludes direct training services, focusing instead on rapid workforce reentry facilitation and efficient labor market matching. Services are provided without eligibility restrictions, making this a universal access program available to all Delaware residents 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.