State Of Nebraska Department Of Labor

The State of Nebraska Department of Labor is a state government entity registered to receive federal awards that has been active in the federal grants system since September 2003. As the primary workforce development and labor administration agency for Nebraska, the department provides essential labor market information, employment services, workplace safety consultation, and workforce training programs to support job seekers, employers, and vulnerable populations throughout the state. The department's mission centers on connecting Nebraskans with employment opportunities while ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and comprehensive labor market data that inform economic policy and workforce planning at all levels of government.

The State of Nebraska Department of Labor has received substantial federal grant funding across multiple U.S. Department of Labor programs and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demonstrating its broad role in implementing national workforce policy at the state level. The department administers significant Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) formula grants, including the Adult Program ($2.6 million for fiscal 2025-2028), Dislocated Worker Program ($1.9 million for fiscal 2025-2028), and Youth Activities Program ($2.7 million for fiscal 2025-2028), all delivered through American Job Centers to provide career services, job training, and supportive services to eligible populations. Employment and Training Administration funding also supports the Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser program ($4.2 million), which connects job seekers with employers and provides universal access career services, along with labor market information development ($363,582) to produce employment projections and workforce databases. The department receives substantial support for specialized populations, including Jobs for Veterans State Grants ($239,921) to fund Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program specialists and Local Veterans' Employment Representatives, and the Senior Community Service Employment Program ($663,506) serving low-income adults aged 55 and older through part-time community service positions and transition services to unsubsidized employment. Additional programming includes Registered Apprenticeship expansion ($492,392), Trade Adjustment Assistance for trade-affected workers, and Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment programs to assist unemployment insurance recipients in returning to work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics funds a cooperative agreement ($250,543) for the Labor Force Statistics program, requiring the department to collect and submit employment data for Current Employment Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration provides block grant funding ($202,000) for on-site workplace safety and health consultation services targeting smaller employers with hazardous operations. The department also administers Unemployment Insurance program operations, fraud detection and prevention initiatives, and Work Opportunity Tax Credit administration. Throughout its grant portfolio, the State of Nebraska Department of Labor may sub-award portions of grants to local entities including the City of Lincoln and City of Omaha, leveraging partnerships with local workforce development boards and community organizations to implement these programs at the regional and community levels, while maintaining direct administration of certain programs such as the Jobs for Veterans State Grants that do not permit sub-awards.