Last updated 2 days ago. Our resources are updated regularly but please keep in mind that links, programs, policies, and contact information do change.
A network of public programs exists to help you succeed: finding jobs, accessing education and training for new careers, and connecting with employers seeking skilled workers.
This network exists thanks to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), passed by Congress in 2014 with bipartisan support.
WIOA provides funding and strategic direction for employment and training programs in every state, helping job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services while matching employers with skilled talent.
Understanding the WIOA Framework
Think of WIOA as the operating system powering job training programs nationwide. While each state customizes its approach with unique names and initiatives, the fundamental structure remains consistent. Whether you’re in Iowa with its “Future Ready Iowa” plan or Washington with its “Talent and Prosperity for All” vision, the core WIOA-funded components stay the same.
WIOA organizes services into main categories, often called “Titles”:
Title I: Workforce Development Activities Core programs providing direct employment and training services for three groups: Adults (18 and older), Dislocated Workers (people laid off or who lost jobs through no fault of their own), and Youth (typically ages 14-24, focusing on those with employment barriers).
Title II: Adult Education and Literacy Programs helping adults improve reading, writing, and math skills; learn English; and obtain high school equivalency diplomas.
Title III: Employment Services Funded under the Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933, this supports the nationwide system of public employment offices connecting job seekers with employers.
Title IV: Vocational Rehabilitation Administered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, this provides specialized employment services and support for individuals with disabilities.
This federal structure ensures baseline access to critical services nationwide, building a skilled workforce and fostering economic opportunity.
American Job Centers: Your Local Hub
WIOA requires states to establish “one-stop” physical locations where individuals can receive wide-ranging assistance at no cost. Nationally, these are American Job Centers (AJCs).
While the national brand is “American Job Center,” states often use their own names. Washington calls its centers WorkSource, California uses America’s Job Center of California, Arkansas has Arkansas Workforce Centers, and Alabama uses Alabama Career Centers. Regardless of name, their function is identical: serving as the primary local hub for all workforce services.
At a typical American Job Center, you’ll find free resources including:
- One-on-one career counseling and planning
- Workshops on resume writing, interviewing skills, and job search strategies
- Skills assessments to identify strengths and potential career paths
- Information about local in-demand jobs and industries
- Referrals to education and training programs, including apprenticeships
- Access to computers, internet, phones, and fax machines for job searches
- Information on filing for unemployment insurance benefits
- Hiring events and opportunities to meet local employers
These centers are staffed by trained professionals who can guide you to specific programs and services fitting your needs.
National Online Resources
The U.S. Department of Labor provides powerful free online tools available to all Americans. These national resources are so central to the workforce system that their data integrates directly into state websites and major private job sites like Indeed and Google.
CareerOneStop The DOL’s flagship website for career exploration, training, and job searching. This comprehensive portal lets you assess skills, find information on career paths, search for training programs and scholarships, and locate your nearest American Job Center.
USAJOBS The official federal government employment site, serving as the primary platform for finding and applying to federal agency jobs nationwide and worldwide.
MyNextMove An interactive tool for exploring career options. You can search careers by keyword, browse industries, or answer questions about your interests to receive personalized career suggestions.
Apprenticeship.gov The national hub for Registered Apprenticeship, a high-quality “earn while you learn” career pathway. The site allows searching for apprenticeship opportunities by occupation and location.
Specialized National Programs
Several key national programs target specific populations:
Job Corps The nation’s largest free residential career training and education program, serving low-income young adults aged 16-24. Job Corps provides hands-on training in over 100 career areas across more than 120 campuses nationwide.
Please note that the Department of Labor announced a “phased pause” of all contractor-operated Job Corps centers on May 29, 2025, effective June 30, 2025. This suspension affects approximately 99 contractor-operated centers and 25,000 students, leaving only 24 federally-operated centers (run by U.S. Forest Service) currently functional.
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) This program offers job training for low-income, unemployed seniors through paid community service assignments, helping older workers learn new skills and prepare for jobs outside the program.
These national resources provide a robust digital foundation complementing in-person services at state and local centers.
State Workforce Agency Directory
Every state has a primary agency or online portal serving as the gateway to workforce development services. The table below provides direct links to each state’s main workforce website.
| State | Primary Workforce Agency/Portal | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | AlabamaWorks! | alabamaworks.com |
| Alaska | Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development | labor.alaska.gov |
| Arizona | ARIZONA@WORK | arizonaatwork.com |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Workforce Connections | dws.arkansas.gov |
| California | California Workforce Development Board / EDD | cwdb.ca.gov |
| Colorado | Colorado Department of Labor and Employment | cdle.colorado.gov |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Department of Labor | portal.ct.gov/DOL |
| Delaware | Delaware Works | delawareworks.com |
| Florida | CareerSource Florida | careersourceflorida.com |
| Georgia | WorkSource Georgia | tcsg.edu/worksource |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Workforce Development Division | labor.hawaii.gov/wdd |
| Idaho | Idaho Department of Labor | labor.idaho.gov |
| Illinois | Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity | dceo.illinois.gov/workforcedevelopment.html |
| Indiana | Indiana Department of Workforce Development | in.gov/dwd |
| Iowa | Iowa Workforce Development | workforce.iowa.gov |
| Kansas | KANSASWORKS | ksworksstateboard.org |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Career Center | kcc.ky.gov |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Workforce Commission | laworks.net |
| Maine | Maine Department of Labor | maine.gov/labor |
| Maryland | Maryland Department of Labor | labor.maryland.gov |
| Massachusetts | Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development | mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-labor-and-workforce-development |
| Michigan | Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity | michigan.gov/leo |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development | mn.gov/deed |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Department of Employment Security | mdes.ms.gov |
| Missouri | Missouri Office of Workforce Development | dhewd.mo.gov/workforce-development |
| Montana | Montana Department of Labor & Industry | wsd.dli.mt.gov |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Department of Labor | dol.nebraska.gov |
| Nevada | Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation | detr.nv.gov |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Office of Workforce Opportunity | nheconomy.com/office-of-workforce-opportunity |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development | nj.gov/labor |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions | dws.state.nm.us |
| New York | New York State Department of Labor | dol.ny.gov |
| North Carolina | NCWorks | nccommerce.com/workforce |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Department of Commerce | workforce.nd.gov |
| Ohio | Ohio Department of Job and Family Services | jfs.ohio.gov |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Office of Workforce Development | https://oklahoma.gov/workforce.html |
| Oregon | Oregon Workforce Partnership | oregonworkforcepartnership.org |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry | dli.pa.gov |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training | dlt.ri.gov |
| South Carolina | SC Works | scworks.org |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation | dlr.sd.gov |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development | tn.gov/workforce.html |
| Texas | Texas Workforce Commission | twc.texas.gov |
| Utah | Utah Department of Workforce Services | jobs.utah.gov |
| Vermont | Vermont Department of Labor | labor.vermont.gov |
| Virginia | Virginia Works | virginiaworks.gov |
| Washington | Washington State Employment Security Department | esd.wa.gov |
| West Virginia | WorkForce West Virginia | workforcewv.org |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development | dwd.wisconsin.gov |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Department of Workforce Services | wyomingworkforce.org |
Alabama: AlabamaWorks!
Alabama’s primary workforce development system is AlabamaWorks!, a unified brand connecting employers, job seekers, and students. Its mission is recruiting, training, and empowering a highly skilled workforce driven by business and industry needs, with the goal of adding 500,000 credentialed workers by 2025.
Key Programs and Services
General Employment and Training (WIOA Adult & Dislocated Worker) Services are delivered through Alabama Career Centers, providing career counseling, resume building, job search assistance, and access to computers and internet. The On-the-Job Training (OJT) program offers an “earn-while-you-learn” opportunity where employers can be reimbursed for up to 75% of a new hire’s wages during training periods up to six months. Eligibility for WIOA-funded training is determined at Career Centers.
Youth and Young Adult Programs (WIOA Youth) The WIOA Youth Program serves individuals aged 16-24, helping them overcome barriers to education and employment. Programs offer incentives like weekly gas cards, childcare assistance, and financial rewards for earning credentials like GEDs or forklift certifications. Many students can participate in paid work-based learning opportunities.
Registered Apprenticeship Programs Apprenticeship Alabama connects workers with paid, on-the-job training in high-demand sectors like healthcare, construction, IT, and advanced manufacturing. The state incentivizes employers through the Alabama Apprenticeship Tax Credit, offering up to $1,750 per apprentice.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services The Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS) provides individualized services for Alabamians with disabilities to find and maintain employment. Services include vocational assessment, job training, transition services for students, assistive technology, and Social Security benefits counseling. Contact your local VRS office or the ADRS State Office at 1-800-441-7607.
Finding In-Person Help Visit one of Alabama’s 57 Alabama Career Centers for direct, in-person assistance. These centers are local hubs for all AlabamaWorks! services.
Alaska: Department of Labor and Workforce Development
The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development oversees the state’s employment and training services, providing resources for job seekers, workers, and employers with a focus on connecting Alaskans to career opportunities through training and support.
Key Programs and Services
General Employment and Training (WIOA Adult & Dislocated Worker) The WIOA program offers grant funding for eligible job seekers to gain skills for high-growth jobs. The Dislocated Worker program specifically serves workers impacted by layoffs, plant closures, or natural disasters, helping them obtain new credentials and skills. The State Training and Employment Program (STEP) provides training for individuals who worked in jobs covered by unemployment insurance and need new skills. Contact your local Alaska Job Center to apply.
Youth and Young Adult Programs (WIOA Youth) Alaska offers specialized youth programs. The Youth Employment in Parks (YEP) program in Anchorage provides paid “first job” experiences for teens 16-19, focusing on park improvement and natural resource management. In the Bering Strait region, Kawerak’s Summer Youth Work Program offers part-time summer employment for youth aged 14-24.
Registered Apprenticeship Programs Alaska offers robust apprenticeship programs in trades like carpentry, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing, plus healthcare fields like medical assisting and pharmacy technology. These “earn while you learn” programs pay apprentices as employees from day one. Contact organizations like Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Alaska or the Alaska Primary Care Association for healthcare apprenticeships.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) helps Alaskans with physical, intellectual, or mental conditions prepare for, get, and keep good jobs. Services are available for adults and students transitioning from school to work. Start a self-referral on the DVR website or contact a local DVR office.
Finding In-Person Help Visit one of Alaska’s Job Centers for direct, in-person assistance. These American Job Centers provide access to all state and federal workforce programs.
Arizona: ARIZONA@WORK
Arizona’s statewide workforce development network is ARIZONA@WORK, operating as a public-private partnership with 12 regional areas and 59 local offices, providing no-cost services to job seekers and employers.
Key Programs and Services
General Employment and Training (WIOA Adult & Dislocated Worker) ARIZONA@WORK provides comprehensive services for adults and dislocated workers, including career counseling, skills development, job search assistance, and placement services. To be eligible for the Adult program, you must be 18 or older and authorized to work in the U.S. Dislocated Worker eligibility includes those laid off, displaced homemakers, or those whose employers announced facility closures. Access services through local ARIZONA@WORK offices.
Youth and Young Adult Programs (WIOA Youth) Youth programs help young people find employment, get job training, and further their education, all free of charge. Local offices provide full youth services, including help with work permits, resume preparation, financial aid for training, and summer job assistance.
Registered Apprenticeship Programs Arizona’s Registered Apprenticeship system is an industry-driven “earn while you learn” model combining at least 2,000 hours of on-the-job training with 144 hours of classroom instruction. Programs are overseen by the Department of Economic Security (DES) Apprenticeship Office. Contact the representative for the specific program you’re interested in to apply.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), part of DES, provides services to persons with disabilities to help them prepare for, enter, or retain employment. To be eligible, you must have a physical or mental impairment that substantially impedes employment. Call 1-800-563-1221 or submit a referral form online to apply.
Finding In-Person Help Visit one of the 50 ARIZONA@WORK Job Centers for direct, in-person assistance. These centers are local access points for all workforce services.
Arkansas: Arkansas Workforce Connections
The Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, through its Arkansas Workforce Connections program, provides a collaborative network of services to improve the state’s workforce skills. The system strategically coordinates core programs to help job seekers, especially low-income youth, adults, and dislocated workers.
Key Programs and Services
General Employment and Training (WIOA Adult & Dislocated Worker) WIOA programs provide employment and training services for adults and dislocated workers, Wagner-Peyser employment services, and adult education. Services are delivered through Arkansas Workforce Centers and include career planning, training services, and supportive services like childcare and transportation assistance.
Youth and Young Adult Programs (WIOA Youth) WIOA Youth programs target services for disadvantaged youth aged 14-24 to support their education and employment goals. Access services through local Arkansas Workforce Centers, which have dedicated youth contacts.
Registered Apprenticeship Programs Arkansas offers registered apprenticeship programs in construction trades, including electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. These U.S. Department of Labor-certified programs combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction one night per week. To apply, you must be 18 or older with a high school diploma or GED and typically need to find an employer before enrolling. The Arkansas Construction Education Foundation (ACEF) is a key resource for these programs.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS) prepares Arkansans with disabilities to work and lead independent lives. Services include vocational training, transition services for students, and specialized services for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Call the office nearest you or the central office at 1-800-330-0632 to set up an initial interview.
Finding In-Person Help Visit one of the Arkansas Workforce Centers for direct, in-person assistance. These American Job Centers provide free services to connect you with employers and training opportunities.
California: Workforce Development Board and EDD
California’s system is overseen by the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB) and services are largely delivered through the Employment Development Department (EDD). The system provides vast no-cost employment and training services through a network of local partners.
Key Programs and Services
General Employment and Training (WIOA Adult & Dislocated Worker) WIOA services for adults and dislocated workers are available through America’s Job Center of California (AJCC) locations. They offer career advice, job search help, and access to education and training to learn new skills.
Youth and Young Adult Programs (WIOA Youth) The Youth Employment Opportunity Program (YEOP) specifically helps young people aged 15-25 who face barriers to success. Peer advisors provide mentoring and career coaching, help with resumes and interviews, and offer referrals for education, training, and support services like transportation and childcare. WIOA Youth services also focus on high school diploma completion and leadership development.
Registered Apprenticeship Programs California’s Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) oversees the state’s robust apprenticeship system. Programs are available in construction, manufacturing, IT, healthcare, and more. Use the state’s official apprenticeship search tool to find programs and contact program sponsors directly to check on open application periods.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) provides wide-ranging services for Californians with disabilities to achieve employment and independence. Programs include career counseling, assistive technology, student transition services, supported employment, and specialized services for individuals who are blind, deaf, or have experienced traumatic brain injuries.
Finding In-Person Help Visit a local America’s Job Center of California (AJCC). These centers are managed by California’s 45 Local Workforce Development Boards.
Our articles make government information more accessible. Please consult a qualified professional for financial, legal, or health advice specific to your circumstances.
