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

The Virgin Islands Department of Labor received $1.31M in formula grant funding from the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration under the Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities program (CFDA 17.207) for the period July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028. This universal access program delivers employment services to job seekers and employers in the U.S. Virgin Islands without eligibility restrictions. Core services to job seekers include job search assistance, career guidance, skills assessments, labor market information, and referrals to employment opportunities. Employer services encompass job order posting, candidate referral and matching, recruitment support for hard-to-fill positions, and assistance with workforce transitions such as supporting laid-off workers. The program explicitly excludes direct training delivery.

The grantee may subaward portions of the grant to support labor market information research and deliver specific services such as career interest assessments, career guidance, job search workshops, and job referral services. All services are designed to facilitate rapid workforce reentry by matching job seekers with appropriate employment opportunities and supporting employers in identifying qualified candidates to fill staffing needs across the territory.

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.