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

The Vermont Department of Labor received a $2,179,113 Formula Grant award from the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration for the Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities program (CFDA 17.207), effective July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028. This universal access program delivers employment services to all Vermont job seekers and employers without eligibility restrictions. Services to job seekers include career assessments, career guidance, job search workshops, job referrals, labor market information, and other employment support services designed to facilitate rapid workforce reentry. Employers receive recruitment support services, including job order posting, applicant matching based on skills and experience, assistance with hard-to-fill positions, and support for laying-off workers.

The Vermont Department of Labor may subaward funds to conduct labor market information research and deliver specific career services such as assessments, guidance, and job search workshops. Notably, the program explicitly excludes direct training services, focusing instead on labor exchange and career counseling mechanisms. The grant funds are available for expenditure during the program year and the succeeding two program years in accordance with federal grant management requirements.

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.