Employment & Education

Explore information and tools regarding employment, careers, education and training opportunities, and the benefits available to those in the workforce or entering the workforce.

If you are seeking immediate assistance for Unemployment Benefits, the Washington State Employment Security Department provides information on key Unemployment Insurance questions including eligibility, how to apply, and extension of benefits. Call 800-318-6022.  

Washington’s one-stop source for career and education planning. You can explore careers, view job trends and eligible education providers on Washington State Career Bridge

Find Training Programs. Use Career Bridge to find in-depth details, results, and contacts for hundreds of training programs at public and private schools around the state. 

Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET) program provides employment readiness opportunities to Basic Food (SNAP) recipients who are not participating in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Reference the DSHS website for eligibility criteria or to find a provider.

Washington Student Achievement Council provides information about various types of financial aid available across Washington State on this one comprehensive site.

Working Washington is a statewide workers organization that fights to raise wages, improve labor standards, and change the conversation about wealth, inequality, and the value of work.  

Fair Work Center empowers workers to achieve fair employment. They are a hub for workers to understand and exercise their legal rights, improve working conditions and connect with community resources. 

The Self Sufficiency Calculator for Washington State is sponsored by the Workforce Development Councils of Washington State and developed by the WDC of Seattle-King County.

The Calculator includes a variety of resources, including the Self Sufficiency Standard. The Self Sufficiency Standard measures how much income is needed for a family of a given composition – ranging from a one-person household to a large family – in a given place, to adequately meet its basic needs without any public or private assistance.

AARP: Assists individuals 50 or older workers with employment and training services

Access Washington: Jobs skills and worker training (Apprenticeship, Contractor Training, Find Workplace Safety and Health Training, Job Training Programs and Training Assistance for Business). 

Career and Technical Education (CTE): CTE is a program for middle and high school students in Washington’s public schools providing career counseling and exploration of career opportunities. 

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR): Statewide employment resources for people with disabilities and businesses who are hiring people with disabilities. 

Employment Security Department (ESD): State agency that provides unemployment benefits and a variety of employment resources for job seekers. 

Job Corps: Live-in program that provides at-risk youth (16-24 years) access to education and job experience. 

O-Net: the nation's primary source of occupational information. Valid data are essential to understanding the rapidly changing nature of work and how it impacts the workforce and U.S. economy. From this information, applications are developed to facilitate the development and maintenance of a skilled workforce.

Start Next Quarter: Offers Washington Community and Technical College students free and reduced tuition, books and fees every quarter. They help provide skills and education needed to find a stable career at a competitive salary, and have programs and resources to make available to eligible students. Clients can start by taking the short, free, anonymous survey.

Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges: Washington’s two-year public colleges offer a wide range of choices and a lot of flexibility. Classes help students prepare to transfer to a university, get job training, gain basic skills, learn English, and pursue continuing education. 

Washington State Board for Community and Technical College Worker Retraining Contacts: Provides programs to help people get the skills to enter or reenter the workforce.  Training programs include advising, career planning, jump-start tuition, and connections to resources such as assistance with Financial Aid, DSHS and ES WIA.

WA State Department of Labor & Industries - Become an Apprentice: An apprenticeship combines on-the-job training with related classroom instruction, all under the supervision of a journey-level professional. Apprentices get paid while they learn and develop knowledge, skills, and abilities in a new career field.

WA State Employment Security Department - Occupations in Demand: Use this web tool to search for or select an occupation title to get a job description, educational requirements, pay, employment trends and resources, or to explore careers, across Washington State.

WorkSource WA: a statewide partnership of state, local and nonprofit agencies that provides an array of employment and training services to job seekers and employers in Washington.

YMCA: a Christian non-profit that provides employment and life skills