Mississippi funds employment services and workforce programs for 2027

The law provides $1.8 million from the General Fund and $138.3 million from other state treasury funds for the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. The funds support the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, including job services, unemployment insurance administration, and related systems and facilities. Of the $138.3 million, $33.047 million comes from federal unemployment trust funds for listed employment services and unemployment-law administration. The appropriations cover July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

The law provides $20.538 million from the General Fund for the Office of Workforce Development and authorizes up to $70.27 million from available special-source funds for workforce programs, grants, and similar activities. The funds support the Office of Workforce Development and workforce programs, grants, and similar activities. Special-source funds generally cannot pay office operating costs, except for reasonable grant oversight fees allowed by law, unless the Legislature separately appropriates them for that purpose. The appropriations and spending authority cover July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

The law directs portions of workforce funding to specified programs, partners, and purposes, including career coaching, workforce training, and a recovery-to-work pilot. The funding supports Office of Workforce Development programs and named partners, including a nonprofit serving students and organizations serving people in recovery. The $1 million recovery-to-work pilot uses opioid settlement funds and is coordinated with drug courts, treatment providers, and organizations providing recovery housing and support. Recipients must certify under oath that they have not entered into certain prohibited success-based compensation contracts; funds cannot go to recipients who fail to certify or violate the certification. These funds apply during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026. At least $2 million from the Workforce Enhancement Training Fund is set aside to start the FY2028 Workforce Education Program.