Employment Services and Jobs Parity Act

This bill adds the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa to the federal employment services system under the Wagner-Peyser Act. It lets these territories take part in state-style job service programs, like job matching and workforce help. It also updates the funding rules so these territories can receive money along with Guam and the Virgin Islands.

Funding will begin when the total national funding for these services rises above the fiscal year 2025 level. From that point on, each year, both the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa would get an amount equal to half of what Guam gets for the same year. The bill also makes related updates to definitions and unemployment law requirements to include these territories.

Key points

• Who is affected: Job seekers, workers, and workforce agencies in the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.
• What changes: These territories are added to the federal employment services network and become eligible for ongoing funding; each would receive half of Guam’s allotment once national funding exceeds the 2025 level.
• When: The new funding starts in the first fiscal year after total national funding rises above the amount available in fiscal year 2025, and continues each year after that.