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

Federal Grant Award Summary

The State of California Employment Development Department (EDD) received a $79.96 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), effective July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028. This universal access program delivers comprehensive employment services to all job seekers and employers in California at no cost. Core services to job seekers include labor exchange services, job search assistance, career assessments, career guidance, workforce information, and referrals to employment and training opportunities. Employer services encompass job order posting, recruitment assistance, applicant matching based on skills and experience, support for special recruitment needs, assistance with hard-to-fill positions, and support for workforce transitions including laid-off worker assistance.

The EDD may subaward portions of these funds to local workforce development partners, nonprofit organizations, and community-based entities to conduct labor market information research and deliver the aforementioned employment services. The program explicitly excludes direct workforce training services, instead focusing on labor exchange mechanisms and career guidance designed to facilitate rapid workforce reentry. Services are provided through American Job Centers and local partnerships, with priority extended to veterans and other covered populations facing employment barriers.

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.