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Assistance Listings
Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities

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Note: This Assistance Listing was not updated by the issuing agency in 2025. Please contact the issuing agency listed under "Contact Information" for more information.

Assistance Listing
Popular Name
Wagner- Peyser Act of 1933.
Sub-tier
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION
Assistance Listing Number
17.207

Overview

Objectives

The Employment Service (ES) program brings together individuals looking for employment and employers looking for job seekers. It does this by providing a variety of services, which are available to all individuals. The program provides job seekers with career services, including labor exchange services, job search assistance, workforce information, referrals to employment, and other assistance. Employers can use the ES to post job orders and obtain qualified applicants.

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Authorizations

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014. , Public Law 113-128

Financial Information

These funding amounts do not reflect the award amounts that are displayed on USASpending.gov
Obligation(s)FY 23FY 24 (est.)FY 25 (est.)
Formula Grants Total$709,000,000$705,000,000$710,000,000
Project Grants Total$13,000,000$22,000,000$22,000,000
Totals$722,000,000$727,000,000$732,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Funding is published annually in the Federal Register. The obligation levels for "Formula Grants" include Employment Service Allotments to States and Workforce Information Grants. The obligation levels for "Project Grants" include One-Stop, RETAIN, and ES National Activities - Technical Assistance and Training.

Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2024: For PY 2023, $677,531,500 was obligated for the Wagner-Peyser Act Employment Service; for PY 2024, $672,893,000 has been obligated. The recipients of these funds are all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the outlying areas. Performance data is available for PY 2022 at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/performance/wioa-performance. Performance data for PY 2023 will be available later this year.

Account Identification

16-0179-0-1-999

Criteria for Applying

Types of Assistance

A - Formula Grants, B - Project Grants

Credentials and Documentation

No Credentials or Documentation are required.
2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Applicant Eligibility

Designations

U.S. Territories and possessions, U.S. Territories and possessions (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals), State

For Wagner-Peyser Employment Service grants and Labor Market Information grants, eligible applicants include all 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Designations

Individual/Family, Minority group, Specialized group (e.g. health professionals, students, veterans), Small business, Profit organization, Private nonprofit institution/organization, Quasi-public nonprofit organization, Other private institution/organization, Anyone/general public, Health Professional, Education Professional, Student/Trainee, Graduate Student, Scientist/Researchers, Artist/Humanist, Engineer/Architect, Builder/Contractor/Developer, Farmer/Rancher/Agriculture Producer, Industrialist/ Business person, Small Business Person, Black, American Indian, Spanish Origin, Asian, Other Non-White, Migrant, U.S. Citizen, Refugee/Alien, Veteran/Service person/Reservist (including dependents, Women, Disabled (e.g. Deaf, Blind, Physically Disabled), Physically Afflicted (e.g. TB, Arthritis, Heart Disease), Mentally Disabled, Senior Citizen (60+), Unemployed, Welfare Recipient, Pension Recipient, Moderate Income, Low Income

The system affords universal access to all job seekers. In addition, services are available to employers seeking to hire workers. Priority of service is given to veterans and other covered persons. These individuals receive priority referral to jobs, as well as specialized employment services and assistance.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Formula funds are provided at the beginning of a program year and are available for expenditure during that program year and the succeeding two program years. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: letter

Use of Assistance

Designations

Employment/Labor/Management

FORMULA GRANTS: Wagner-Peyser Employment Services Grants: The Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933 established a nationwide system of public employment offices collectively known as the Employment Service (ES). The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), amended Wagner-Peyser, making the Employment Service part of the American Job Center (AJC) Network, also known as the One-Stop Career Center delivery system. AJCs provide an integrated array of high-quality services which allow workers, job seekers, and businesses to access services under one roof, with many services also offered through self-service electronic access, both at the Centers and remotely on the Internet. These services provide universal access to all including persons with barriers to employment. For Wagner-Peyser Employment Services Grants to States, funds must be used for career services, including labor exchange activities and the provision of labor market information. Training is not an allowable activity. Services available include assessments of career interests, career guidance when appropriate, job search workshops, and referral to jobs or training as appropriate. Services offered to employers in addition to referral of job seekers to job openings, include 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. Under WIOA, the ES has increased its reemployment services to Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants. Under Wagner-Peyser Act Section 7(b), 10 percent of the total sums allotted to each state workforce agency (SWA) are reserved for use by the Governor to provide performance incentives, services for individuals with special needs, and for the extra costs of exemplary models for enhancing state workforce staff with professional development and career advancement opportunities. Labor Market Information Grants to States: These fund the provision of state and local workforce information to job seekers, employers, and educators, job trainers, economic developers and others. Such information includes job opportunities, employment projections, workforce trends, career guidance, wage rates, and other data and information. The amended Wagner-Peyser Act under WIOA has enhanced collaboration among employment and training programs by States mandating co-location of ES offices with the one-stop offices. WIOA aligns the service delivery, planning and performance data within the one-stop delivery system.For Wagner-Peyser Employment Services Grants to states, the funds must be used for career services, including labor exchange activities, labor market, for workforce information purposes. Training is not an allowable activity.

Applying for Assistance

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedures

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program.

FORMULA GRANTS: Under WIOA, Wagner-Peyser is a "core" program, in which the Governor submits a single Unified State Plan or Combined State Plan in accordance with the respective Planning Guidance, issued through the Federal Register. The Planning Guidance provides detailed instruction on what must be included in the State Plan. The Unified Planning Guidance provides a framework for collaboration across programs and integration of services, including WIOA Title I programs and Wagner-Peyser Activities, and WIOA Titles II and IV programs overseen by the Department of Education. The plan is submitted to www.wioaplans.ed.gov.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not Applicable.

Award Procedure

Those portions of the State Plan over which the Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training exercises authority are reviewed and approved by the Employment and Training Administration. Formula funds are awarded to the states based on a statutory formula provided in the authorizing legislation or, as in the case of LMI grants, based on an administrative formula. The State Plans include services to persons with barriers to employment, including persons with disabilities.

Date Range for Approval/Disapproval

From 60 to 90 days. As provided in regulations.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Compliance Requirements

Policy Requirements

The following 2CFR policy requirements apply to this assistance listing:

Subpart B, General provisions

Subpart C, Pre-Federal Award Requirements and Contents of Federal Awards

Subpart D, Post Federal; Award Requirements

Subpart E, Cost Principles

Subpart F, Audit Requirements

The following 2CFR policy requirements are excluded from coverage under this assistance listing:

Not Applicable

Additional Information:

Reports

Program Reports: For formula grants, quarterly performance reporting is required in addition to quarterly financial, activities and outcomes reports.

Expenditure Reports: For formula grants, quarterly financial reports are required.

Performance Reports: Monitoring is conducted by Regional Federal Project Officers based on quarterly reports.

Audits

Refer to the link below for 2 CFR Subpart F Audit Requirements.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-F

Records

Standard records for audits are required.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

WIOA Final Rule, 20 CFR Part 652 - Establishment and Functioning of State Employment Service, Subpart B - Services for Veterans; Part 680 - Adult and Dislocated Worker Activities under Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; Subpart A - Delivery of Adult and Dislocated Worker Services through the One Stop Service Delivery System.

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory Formula: Title The Wagner-Peyser Act Chapter Section 6 (b)(4) Part Subpart Public Law 29 U.S.C. 493
Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Contact Information

Regional or Local Locations:

None.

Headquarters Office:

Robert Kight
200 Constitution Ave., NW, Room S-4203,
Washington, DC 20210
kight.robert@dol.gov
202-693-3937
Website: http://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta

History

  • 2024Published

    Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities

  • 2023Published

    Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities

  • 2022Published

    Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities

  • 2021Published

    Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities

  • 2020Published

    Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities

  • 2019Published

    Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities

  • 2018Published

    Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities

  • 2018Published

    Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities

  • 2006Title Changed

    Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities

  • 1972Title Changed

    Employment Service

  • 1970Title Changed

    Employment Services_Grants to States

  • 1965Published

    Employment Service_Industrial Services