A frequent question I get from people about to be released from jail or prison is if there are any resources available to help them find work. I’ve gotten the question so frequently I decided to roll up my sleeves and make a list of each state’s official employment website. This list also covers Puerto Rico & the US Virgin Islands.
I learned some interesting things by checking each state’s official employment website:
- Most states have a free job search tool. Some you must register for.
- Many states offer additional services and programs to help you succeed in your job search, like helping with resumes, or free training or instruction. Delaware even has a program to pay for certain certificates or diplomas!
- A few states have a free app you can download to help you apply for jobs from your smartphone.
- Make sure you look around the various links, as many lead you to additional resources, training, or job fairs.
As a bonus, I included the national link to find the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and Bonds for Felons Programs, by state, as well. For more free resources, when you can, check out my YouTube channel “Bob Pelshaw” and my website pelshaw.com.
Good luck with your job search!
Job Search Websites: By State & Territory
For the free federal tax credit, and the Bonds for Felons program, find your state on the NATIONAL LIST: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/wotc/contact/state-workforce-agencies
For more free resources to help your job search check out my free course Bottom Line Reasons to Hire the Formerly Incarcerated, available on tablets and at my Bob Pelshaw Youtube channel, social media, and my website www.pelshaw.com
THIS LIST IS PROVIDED AS A CONVENIENCE and is subject to change or update without notice.
We recommend that you also check to see if your state offers any programs, resources, training, apprenticeships, job fairs, resume help, or more. Some states have a free app you can download to do job searches on your smartphone.
ALABAMA: Alabama Works https://alabamaworks.alabama.gov/vosnet/Default.aspx
ALASKA: Department of Labor and Workforce Development – Alaska Jobs
https://alaskajobs.alaska.gov/vosnet/Default.aspx
ARIZONA: Department of Economic Security https://des.az.gov/services/employment/job-seekers
ARKANSAS: Division of Workforce Services https://dws.arkansas.gov/workforce-services/job-seekers/
CALIFORNIA: CA Employment Development Department https://edd.ca.gov/en/jobs/
COLORADO: Department of Labor & Employment https://cdle.colorado.gov/jobs-training/find-a-job
CONNECTICUT: CT Department of Labor https://portal.ct.gov/dol/Job-Seekers?language=en_US
DELAWARE: Department of Labor The Division of Employment and Training (DET) can help cover degree costs, as well as license and certificate programs. To review a list of available Training and Education Providers go to joblink.delaware.gov and click on Training/Education. Delaware Jobs Board https://joblink.delaware.gov/
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: DC Department of Employment Services https://does.dc.gov/services
FLORIDA: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity – Employ Florida
https://www.employflorida.com/vosnet/Default.aspx
GEORGIA: Georgia Department of Labor https://dol.georgia.gov/job-search-assistance
HAWAII: Hawaii Workforce Development https://labor.hawaii.gov/wdd/
IDAHO: Idaho Works https://idahoworks.gov/job_seeker
ILLINOIS: Illinois Department of Employment Security https://ides.illinois.gov/jobs-workforce.html
INDIANA: Indiana Department of Workforce Development https://www.in.gov/dwd/job-seekers/
IOWA: Iowa Workforce Development https://www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/
Iowa Works (jobs board) https://www.iowaworks.gov/vosnet/Default.aspx
KANSAS: Kansas Department of Commerce – Kansas Works https://www.kansasworks.com/
KENTUCKY: Kentucky Career Center https://focuscareer.ky.gov/careerexplorer/jobsearch/searchjobpostings
LOUISIANA: Louisiana Workforce Commission
Go to https://www.laworks.net/ and select something under “Job Seekers” to get to the services section. You will need to register before you can use services, but it’s free.
MAINE: Maine Career Center https://www.mainecareercenter.gov/jobseekers/index.shtml
Maine JobLink https://joblink.maine.gov/
MARYLAND: Department of Labor http://www.dllr.state.md.us/employment/jobseekers.shtml
MASSACHUSETTS: Job Seeker Services http://www.dllr.state.md.us/employment/jobseekers.shtml
Department of Career Services – MassHire Job Quest https://jobquest.dcs.eol.mass.gov/jobquest/LandingPage.aspx
MICHIGAN: Michigan Talent Connect (check both sites below)
https://www.mitalent.org/job-seeker
https://jobs.mitalent.org/job-search
MINNESOTA: Employment and Economic Development (check both sites below)
https://mn.gov/deed/job-seekers/
https://mn.gov/deed/job-seekers/find-a-job/
MISSISSIPPI: MS Department of Employment Security
https://mdes.ms.gov/i-need-a-job/ scroll down to Search For a Job
MISSOURI: Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
https://jobs.mo.gov/jobseeker and MOJOBS
https://app-jobs.mo.gov/vosnet/dashboards/default.aspx?menuid=MENU_START_PAGE_DASHBOARD
MONTANA: Department of Labor & Industry, Workforce Services Division https://wsd.dli.mt.gov/ Select “job seeker” and then click the option you want to explore. The job search is listed here also.
NEBRASKA: NEWorks https://neworks.nebraska.gov/vosnet/Default.aspx
NEVADA: Department of Employment Security – Nevada Job Connect https://nevadajobconnect.com/# Select “Job Seekers” tab
NEW HAMPSHIRE: NH Dept. of Employment Security https://www.nhes.nh.gov/index.htm For job searches https://business.nh.gov/NHESJobSearch/
NEW JERSEY: Department of Labor & Workforce Development https://www.nj.gov/labor/career-services/
NEW MEXICO: NM Workforce Development https://www.jobs.state.nm.us/vosnet/Default.aspx
NEW YORK: Department of Labor https://dol.ny.gov/jobs-and-careers
NORTH CAROLINA: Department of Commerce www.nccommerce.com/jobs-training/resources-job-seekers and also check NC Works, and download their free app to help you search for jobs on the phone www.ncworks.gov/vosnet/Default.aspx
NORTH DAKOTA: North Dakota Job Service https://www.jobsnd.com/job-seeker
OHIO: Ohio Jobs and Family Services https://jfs.ohio.gov/owd/JobSeekers/index.stm
Also check their jobs board https://ohiomeansjobs.ohio.gov/
OKLAHOMA: OK Employment Security Commission https://okjobmatch.com/
OREGON: Oregon Employment Dept. www.oregon.gov/employ/jobseekers/Pages/default.aspx
Also check out Work Source Oregon https://worksourceoregon.org/jobseekers
PENNSYLVANIA: Department of Labor & Industry PA CareerLink www.pacareerlink.pa.gov/jponline/
PUERTO RICO: Departmento Del Trabajo https://www.mercadolaboral.pr.gov/
RHODE ISLAND: Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training
https://dlt.ri.gov/individuals also check EmployRI https://www.employri.org/
SOUTH CAROLINA: SC Dept. of Employment and Workforce Development
https://www.dew.sc.gov/individuals/find-job They can help with a resume, training, and more!
SC Works Online https://jobs.scworks.org/vosnet/Default.aspx
SOUTH DAKOTA: SD Department of Labor and Regulation
https://dlr.sd.gov/workforce_services/individuals/default.aspx
Scroll down for the Job Search site or go to https://www.southdakotaworks.org/vosnet/Default.aspx
TENNESSEE: TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development JOBS4TN
https://www.tn.gov/workforce/jobs-and-education/job-search1/jobs4tn.html
You can register for free, and download their app to do easy job searches on your smartphone
TEXAS: Texas Workforce Commission https://www.twc.texas.gov/jobseekers/job-search
Scroll down and look at the links MY TX CAREER and WORKIN in TEXAS
UTAH: UT Department of Workforce Services https://jobs.utah.gov/jobseeker/index.html
Also check the Job Search Tools link https://jobs.utah.gov/jobseeker/js.html
And scroll down to JOB SEARCH WEBSITES
VERMONT:Vermont Department of Labor https://labor.vermont.gov/workforce-development
Vermont Job Link https://www.vermontjoblink.com/search/jobs
VIRGIN ISLANDS: US Virgin Islands Department of Labor Job Search
https://www.vidol.gov/search-for-jobs/ looks for “click here to search for jobs” which takes you to this website https://www.vidolviews.org/vosnet/Default.aspx
VIRGINIA: Virginia Employment Commission https://vawc.virginia.gov/vosnet/Default.aspx
VA Workforce Connection https://vawc.virginia.gov/vosnet/JobBanks/JobSearchCriteriaQuick.aspx
WASHINGTON: Employment Security Department https://esd.wa.gov/jobs-and-training
WorkSource Washington https://seeker.worksourcewa.com/
WEST VIRGINIA: Workforce West Virginia https://workforcewv.org/job-seekers
Click “find a job” and follow the instructions to register, for free, for their job search system
WISCONSIN: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/det/jobseeker.htm look at the other services they offer
Job Center of Wisconsin has free job searches, plus resume building, and other assistance for free
https://jobcenterofwisconsin.com/
WYOMING: Wyoming Workforce Services https://dws.wyo.gov/job-seekers-workers-businesses/
Scroll down under RESOURCES FOR JOB SEEKERS AND WORKERS and look for and click WOTC for a free tax credit you can offer an employer to hire you.
www.wyomingatwork.com/ is the job search portal. You can also do their website in Spanish
© 2022 Pelshaw Group, Inc. Used with permission.
Ask Bob is an advice column by Bob Pelshaw, formerly incarcerated citizen, successful entrepreneur, speaker, and author of the award-winning Illegal to Legal: Business Success for the (Formerly) Incarcerated. (Book and workbook available on Amazon). Bob also provides content to Edovo, GTL, PayTel, and jails and prisons nationally.
Ask Bob answers questions about life, successful re-entry, starting a business and entrepreneurship, and most anything that adds value, except the column does not cover legal issues, sentencing matters, or case issues. To ask Bob a question, write to him at:
ASK BOB
c/o Pelshaw Group, Inc.
PO Box 460671
Papillion, NE 68046
You may also like this
PELL GRANTS FOR THE INCARCERATED
ASK BOB: Free Pen Pal Services for Inmates
Grant Money: Finding and Writing Grants
DIRECT MARKETING: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS OBVIOUS
[…] of the biggest mistakes people make when applying for jobs is to apply for every job possible. Anyone who knows the difference between target marketing and […]