EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

AUTHORIZATION:

Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933, Public Law 73-30, as amended, Public Law 97-300, 29 U.S.C. 49-49n and 39 U.S.C. 338: Social Security Act of 1935, Public Law 74-271, as amended; 42 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.

OBJECTIVES:

To place persons in employment by providing a variety of placement-related services without charge to job seekers and to employers seeking qualified individuals to fill job openings.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Formula Grants;  Provision of Specialized Services;  Advisory Services and Counseling.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

The Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933 established a nationwide system of public employment offices, and was amended in 1998 to be part of the One-Stop delivery system. The United States Employment Service, through grant agreements with the States, supports the system to serve persons seeking or needing employment and employers seeking workers. This Public Employment Service system, focuses on providing job finding, workshops, referral and placement services to job seekers, re-employment services to unemployment insurance claimants, and recruitment services to employers with job vacancies. Under the Wagner-Peyser Act, funds are allocated to each State to plan and administer a labor exchange program that most effectively responds to the needs of the State's employers and job seekers. The Federal Government, through the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, provides general direction, funding, and oversight as well as assisting States with programs of test development, occupational analysis, and development of the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) as the replacement of the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT). Veterans receive priority referral to jobs as well as special employment services and assistance. Handicapped workers are also entitled to special employment services. Also available may be job search training or assistance, job counseling and testing services to seekers, as planned by each State. The services offered to employers, in addition to referral of applicants to job openings, include matching job requirements with worker skills and assistance in job modification to help fill hard-to-fill openings. The Employment Service system may provide specialized services such as the following: 1) Services to special applicant groups such as veterans, migrant and seasonal farm-workers, ex-offenders, job seekers with disabilities, disadvantaged job seekers, youth, minorities and older workers. This may include special emphasis on job counseling and referral of such workers to services which help overcome barriers to employment which are unrevealed to job performance; 2) a nationwide computerized interstate job listing of hard-to-fill employer openings distributed to all Employment Service local offices; 3) the development and distribution of State and local labor market information which allows job seekers, employers, and providers and planners of job training and economic development to obtain information pertaining to job opportunities, labor supply, labor market trends, and the market situation in particular industries.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   States, including Washington, District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   All employers seeking workers, persons seeking employment, and associated groups. Priority in service is given to veterans, with disabled veterans receiving preferential treatment over other veterans.

Credentials/Documentation:   Cost will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A- 87 as codified in 41 CFR 1-15.7 for State and local governments.

APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:   This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs, " and the Wagner-Peyser Act. Any State desiring to receive benefits of the Wagner-Peyser Act shall submit to the Secretary of Labor, through the appropriate Regional Office of the Employment and Training Administration, detailed plans for carrying out the provisions of this Act within such State. States are provided preliminary planning estimates in January of each year preceding the program year for which funds are allotted. Final planning estimates are issued annually by late March. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program.

Application Procedure:   Each State prepares a Statewide Plan. The State Plan is developed as provided under Section 8 of the Wagner-Peyser Act, as amended and in accordance with the regulations. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure:   Review of State Plan occurs at Employment and Training Administration regional offices. Final award is provided the grantee agencies before July 1, the start of the program year.

Deadlines:   Established each year (contact Federal agency for deadline for application submission).

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   As provided in regulations.

Appeals:   As provided in regulations.

Renewals:   Not applicable.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   The Wagner-Peyser Act requires that at least 97 percent of the funds appropriated for allotment to States be distributed by the formula provisions of Section 6 of the Act. An amount not to exceed 3 percent of the sums available for allotment shall be reserved by the Secretary for distribution to States in accordance with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act. The amount of funds available for allotment to States is distributed by the beginning of the program year. There is not matching requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Length, funded annually. Financing is accomplished through Letter of Credit draw-downs needed to meet immediate cash requirements.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   As provided for in regulations.

Audits:   Audits are conducted by the Administrator, Office of Financial and Administrative Management (Program Review and Audit), other authorized Government agencies, or independent public accountants selected by DOL. Nonprofit organizations are audited in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of Institutions of Higher Education and Other Nonprofit Institutions".

Records:   Standard records for audits are required.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   16-0179-0-1-504; 20-8042-0-7-999.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 99 $761,735,000; FY 00 $761,735,000; FY 01 est $761,735,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   Determined by legislative formula.

PROGAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Data unavailable.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

"State and Local Area Labor Market Newsletters" are available from State Employment Security Agencies. Available from Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 202402, are: "Area Trends in Employment and Unemployment"; "Tips For Finding The Right Job"; "Dictionary of Occupational Titles, revised Fourth Edition (1991)"; "Guide for Occupational Exploration," (1979); Revised Handbook for Analyzing Jobs (1991); "Job Search Guide: Strategies for Professional," (1993).

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Contact the nearest office of the State Employment Security Agency or the appropriate Employment and Training Administration regional office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office:   Administrator, Office of Workforce Security, United States Employment Service, Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 219-7831. Contact: Grace Kilbane.

Web Site Address:   http://www.dol.gov.

RELATED PROGRAMS:

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

All State Employment Security Agencies provide the types of services described in the Uses and Use Restrictions section to the general public.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Not applicable.