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

The Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement received a formula grant award of $15.69 million from the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) under the Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities program (CFDA 17.207), effective July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028. This grant funds the delivery of universal access employment services and labor market information products to Virginia's workforce. Core services provided to job seekers include career assessments, career guidance, job search workshops, labor exchange services, job referral assistance, and workforce information dissemination. Employers receive recruitment support through job posting services, applicant referral and matching, assistance with hard-to-fill positions, and support for special recruitment needs and workforce transitions.

The program explicitly excludes direct training services, instead focusing on rapid labor market matching and career guidance mechanisms. The Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement may subaward portions of this funding to conduct labor market information research and deliver specific services such as career assessments, guidance, and job search workshops. All individuals have universal access to these services without eligibility restrictions, with priority extended to veterans and other covered populations, facilitating efficient connections between job seekers and employers throughout Virginia's American Job Center network.

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.