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Employment and Training Fund Program

Effective July 1, 2009 and until further notice, a temporary moratorium is being placed on the funding of all training services under the Employer Referral Program. Please scroll down to the Employer Referral Program section below for more information and the latest updates.


 
 

 

In 1991, the State Legislature established the ETF program to address the growing need to upgrade the job skills of Hawaii's workforce. The ETF program was created as part of a national movement that swept the country in the nineteen-eighties.  Our nation's leaders, particularly at state and local levels, were concerned about the United States workforce's ability to compete in the international economic arena.Investing in human capital to improve productivity and the nation's quality of goods and services became a top priority. 

There are two ways to access ETF:

  • 1) ETF Grant ("macro") program, or
  • 2) ETF Employer Referral ("micro") program.

 

The ETF Grant Program (also known as the "macro" program) provides grants for industry specific training where there are critical skill shortages in high growth occupational or industry areas. These funds are used as "seed" money to develop "cutting edge" education and training curricula and program design and activities where none exist in the state. Funding for 2009 has been dedicated to green training projects. For more information on existing green project initiatives, contact the ETF Administration Office at (808) 586-8818.

The Employer Referral ("micro") program is most popular among individual businesses that need to upgrade the job skills of their employees. Training courses that are available include, but not limited to: computer, business, management, health, medical training, or soft skills training. Access the links below to review the list of ETF approved vendors. Enrollment forms for training have been revised. To apply for ETF assistance, double-click the link below

 

PLEASE NOTE:  Effective July 1, 2009 and until further notice, a temporary moratorium will be placed on the funding of all training activities under the ETF’s Employer Referral Program.  

 

The Employment and Training Fund Program is facing a budget shortfall due to a reduction in ETF revenues resulting from the following:


  • The passage of Act 110 which lowered the unemployment insurance taxable wage base from $34,000 to $13,000 from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2010.  Since the Employment and Training Tax is collected together with unemployment insurance, this reduced incoming revenues by approximately 60%.  
  • Act 79, signed into law on May 28, 2009, which transfers 5% of revenues and any interest income earned from special and revolving funds, including the ETF Program, into the general fund from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2015 to close part of the State’s budget gap.  It is projected that this will further reduce ETF revenues by an additional 18-20%.  
  • An ever-growing reduction of employers in the available pool from which unemployment insurance is collected resulting in a continual decrease in revenues as the local economy continues to retract.
Training services under ETF’s Employer Referral Program shall resume as soon as sufficient funds become available.  Please check this website periodically for updates about funding availability.
  









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