Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Employment Service (Wagner-Peyser) Program Allotments for Program Year (PY) 2026.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Activities Program Allotments, along with Wagner-Peyser Employment Service and Workforce Information Grants, are administered by the U.S. Department of Labor through its Employment and Training Administration. This funding guidance outlines the allocation of federal workforce development resources to states and outlying areas for Program Year 2026. The program is designed to support employment, training, and labor exchange services that enhance workforce readiness, support unemployed and underemployed individuals, and strengthen labor market systems across the United States and its territories. The primary purpose of these funds is to enable states to deliver workforce development programs under WIOA Title I, including services for youth, adults, and dislocated workers. These funds also support employment services authorized under the Wagner-Peyser Act and workforce data infrastructure through Workforce Information Grants. Allowable uses include employment and training services, job placement assistance, labor market information dissemination, program administration, and evaluation activities. Funds may also be used for statewide workforce initiatives, subject to statutory caps, including up to 15 percent reserved by governors for statewide activities. Additional set-asides are applied at the federal level for evaluation, program integrity, and inter-program transfers. Eligibility for funding is limited to state workforce agencies and designated outlying areas, including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These entities receive formula-based allocations determined by statutory factors such as unemployment levels, labor force data, and counts of disadvantaged populations. Outlying areas may apply for consolidated grants covering multiple funding streams, allowing flexibility to use funds interchangeably across program categories upon approval. Local workforce areas receive sub-allocations from states based on prescribed formulas or approved discretionary methods. The application process requires submission of an SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance through Grants.gov for each funding stream. Applicants must ensure their registration with the System for Award Management is current and include accurate funding amounts and required identifiers in their submission. The submission deadline is 30 days from the issuance date of the guidance. States must also comply with reporting requirements, including quarterly financial reports using the ETA-9130 system. Additional guidance and technical instructions are provided through Department of Labor advisory notices. Funding availability is structured across multiple release dates. Youth funds are available beginning April 1, 2026, while Adult and Dislocated Worker funds are distributed in two phases, with initial funding available July 1, 2026, and additional funds released October 1, 2026. Employment Service and Workforce Information Grants are awarded in July 2026. Recipients must adhere to obligation and expenditure timelines, with reallotment provisions applied if funds are not sufficiently obligated within required thresholds. Evaluation and oversight are integral to the program. States must comply with federal salary caps and reporting standards, and funds may be subject to recapture and redistribution based on performance and obligation levels. Program effectiveness is assessed through financial reporting, performance metrics, and compliance with statutory requirements. The Department of Labor provides ongoing support and oversight through regional offices and published guidance to ensure proper administration and impact of these workforce development funds.