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Workforce Development
In-Person Hours by Location
Services also available by phone, email, and virtual meetings; including job seeker trainings and career fairs.
- No Walk-Ins - by appointment only.
- Phone 651-430-4162.
- Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Walk-in and appointments, phone 651-275-7265.
- Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed noon - 1 p.m.)
- Phone 651-275-8665.
No Fooling! visit us Sat Apr 1 at the Woodbury Expo - Booth #214
Week of April 3rd - April 7th
Hot Jobs (PDF)
Hot Jobs Flyers (PDF)
Workshops
Provides the most up-to-date job search and career assessment workshops to any job seeker.
Trainings
NOW (Non-Traditional Opportunities for Women) (PDF)
- FREE short-term training for women who are seeking non-traditional work in areas like manufacturing, construction, and transportation. Examples of job titles: construction or commercial painters, welders, heavy truck drivers (CDL), highway maintenance workers, CNC operators, glaziers (specialty occupation in construction).
- Average starting pay, metro area = $18.02 per hour
- Eligibility: Women, age 18+, Minnesota resident and eligible to work in the U.S. PLUS ONE of the following: of color, or low income, or age 50+.
- For more information please call Angela at 651-275-8685 or email Angela
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Associate Certificate Course (PDF)
Certified Instructor-led, classroom-based training to prepare for the MOS Associate Certificate (MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) exam.
Also includes work readiness training in foundational reading, writing and math; ESL when necessary; as well as curriculum that is tailored to make work central to learning.
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
- 12:00-3:00 p.m.
- Central Park, Woodbury
Next sessions:
- April 10 - June 29, 2023
For information & eligibility contact Sheng Xiong, Career Navigator 651-275-8701
Career Pathways Program (PDF)
- Short-Term Education Needs
- Employment Experiences
- Transportation Expenses
- And More
Other Resources for Short-Term Trainings
- CareerForce Training Program search
- Department of Labor Apprenticeships
- Minneapolis Health Hire
- Job Connect Training Dashboard
- CareerWise Education Search Tool - Short-Term Trainings
Dislocated Worker Services
Are you laid off from your job, through no fault of your own? You may qualify for dislocated worker services that can connect you to short-term training to refresh or upgrade skills, or obtain certification or professional licensure, and other help and guidance for your job search. Call Beth for eligibility at 651-275-8680.
Unemployment Insurance
Dislocated Worker Services
If you have lost your employment in the past 12 months due to no fault of your own, you may be eligible for Dislocated Workers Services. Services are custom tailored to meet an individual’s specific needs. Working one-on-one with a counselor, you’ll develop a plan for employment that may include:
- Career planning and counseling
- Job search and placement services
- Counselor-approved training
- Other support services
For information, call 651-275-8680.
Income-based programs
- Diversionary Work Program (DWP) DWP is a four-month program for Minnesota low-income families. It provides quick and intense Employment Services to identify and resolve employment barriers in order to help participants achieve employment. DWP Employment Counselors offer job search assistance and support in order to help families achieve self-sufficiency.
- Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP). MFIP is a comprehensive work focused program for low-income families in Minnesota. The goals of MFIP are to encourage and enable families to find employment, help families increase their income and move out of poverty and gain self-sufficiency to support the family. MFIP Employment Counselors offer job search assistance and support in order to help families achieve self-sufficiency.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In some cases a household income is higher than the above programs but eligible for SNAP which helps you afford food while you are unemployed. This program also offers Employment and Training Services. To see if you may eligible for any of these programs, please visit Economic Assistance on the Washington County Community Services page.
Common Employment and Training Program Forms:
For additional program information, call 651-275-8702.
55+ Workers
- SCSEP services for Washington County residents will be provided by Somali Community Resettlement Services' Minneapolis office starting August 1, 2022.
- Washington County residents interested in SCSEP services after July 31, 2022 can contact SCRS directly for application: Phone 612-353-6380 or email Ifrah.
16-24 Workers
The Young Adult Program receives State and Federal funding to provide employment and training opportunities to low-income and/or at-risk young adults. Services provided include:
- career planning
- job search assistance
- paid work experience
- assistance with tuition costs.
Applications accepted for youth ages 16-24:
Career Pathways Program (PDF)
Offers direct financial support to individuals working to find a job, to prevent unemployment, obtain additional education, job training, certifications, or to find a better paying job. Funds can be used for:
- Transportation costs
- Education and training costs
- Childcare expenses
- Uniforms, tools, education supplies, and more
For more information, please contact Jerry, Career Pathways Liaison at 651-275-7749
Attention! Washington County Small Business Owners (pdf)
Small and medium-sized businesses located within Washington County are invited to participate in the Forge HR workshop series hosted by Washington County Office of Workforce Development and Optima HR Solutions. Eligible participating businesses will be reimbursed for the first two months of the workshop series (valued at $900). The first session is scheduled for March 29th, 2023 at the Washington County Service Center in Woodbury. Limited slots are available.
2023 Racial Equity Dividends Index Grants (pdf)
What is the Racial Equity Dividends Index?
A tool developed by the Center for Economic Inclusion for private sector businesses to measure their progress towards building racially equitable and inclusive workplaces. Eligible businesses can be reimbursed for up to $2,500 toward the cost of registration.
- For more information on the above grants, please contact Jerry, Career Pathways Liaison at 651-275-7749
Washington County CDA
For Employers
CareerForce locations are more than just a place for those looking for work. It’s also a place for businesses looking to hire.
Hiring
- Virtual Career Fairs: It's a no-fee opportunity to meet with job seekers. We will keep you updated on both local and metro region events and help promote your events.
- Submit your events for posting with us by completing this online Career Fair Submission Form.
- You can post jobs and search for resumes on this no-fee, online resources job bank.
- Have qualified applicants referred to you by the CareerForce network of counselors and staff.
Programs to help reduce your risk and taxes:
Career Pathways (PDF)
- Employers located within Washington County may be eligible for a $2,500 one-time grant to support:
- Recruitment efforts
- Community engagement to promote career opportunities
- Other activities to support meeting workforce needs
- Connect your business to future Minnesota workers! FutureFoward is a website designed to connect Minnesota businesses to students and classrooms. Register your business for free at FutureFoward.org
- For more information, please contact Jerry, Career Pathways Liaison at 651-275-7749
- Employers located within Washington County may be eligible for a $2,500 one-time grant to support:
Training
- MN Job Skills Partnership Training - provides financial resources for you to expand your business or train your workers.
- CareerForce hosts monthly Workforce Wednesdays for employers. These sessions have been recorded. You can register for future and view past sessions
On-The-Job Training
- Saves your business money by providing wage reimbursement during the new-hire training period.
- Your new employee is trained according to your standards. Industry specific training is targeted to Manufacturing, Healthcare, Finance, Construction, and IT.
- For information, call Angela at 651-275-8685.
Young Adult Program
- Promoting worksite placement, applicant referrals, and some wage payment for youth ages 18-24.
- For information, call Sheng at 651-275-8701.
- Future Forward (PDF) platform for promoting your business and connect to future Minnesota workers by creating a FutureForward employer profile.
GED/Literacy/Adult Basic Education/English as a Second Language Training
- Connect with your school district for hours and locations of classroom instruction.
Labor Market Information
- Get information on economic data and trends, skills of the available workforce, wage, and salary information by area.
Business Start-Ups
- CareerForce has resources for entrepreneurs as well as connections to:
To participate in a Career Fair (virtual or in-person) or to discuss any of these resources, call Robin at 651-275-8684.
Career Labs
Career Labs are the core of every CareerForce location and serves as a business office for job seekers and a resource for employers. It features the tools and resources needed to the find a job or make a career change.
Career Lab Hours:
- Woodbury
- 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (closed noon - 1 p.m.)
- Phone 651-275-8665.
- Cottage Grove
- No Walk-Ins - In-person, by appointment only.
- Phone 651-430-4162.
- Forest Lake - Hardwood Creek Library
- Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Phone 651-275-7265.
Career Labs provide:
- Knowledgeable staff
- Up-to-date job listings
- Computer, internet and printer access
- Resume writing
- Career planning
- Community and education resources
CareerForce Virtual Services
- CareerForce has online workshops on Job Search, Resume Writing, and Interview skills along with links to several online resources.
- Contact any of our three locations to start planning your future!
Job Search Resources
Resume Review
- Career Services Specialists are available to review your resume and provide feedback.
- Email your resume to your nearest CareerForce location.
- Please include "Resume Review" in the subject line.
Resume Kits (PDF)
- Our partners at the Washington County Libraries have a section called Job and Career Resources.
- Here you will find many helpful resources.
- There are Resume Kits available to customers with limited access to computers and low technology skills.
- Career Fairs/Networking Events
- CareerForce Online Tools (Assessments)
- Dakota County Libraries
- Dress for Success Twin Cities
- Goodwill Community Foundation Learn Free
- Great Rivers Adult Education - Free adult classes (age 17+) including ESL classes, Computer Literacy/Microsoft Office, GED Prep and K12 Diploma
- Washington County Libraries
- Century College - Reduced Price Cosmetology Services (PDF)
A proud partner of the American Job Center network.
Washington County CareerForce administers programs targeted to those who have lost their job due to no fault of their own, low-income adults and youth, disadvantaged youth and young adults, and welfare-to-work participants. Our goal is to help them become successful in securing and retaining jobs and to enhance marketable skills for the current labor market.
CareerForce serves career seekers no matter where they are at in their career from just starting out to mid-level management and beyond. CareerForce does this through customized career planning, resume revision and interview preparation, plus education and training for eligible career seekers. CareerForce also connects career seekers to thousands of Minnesota job openings online.
CareerForce serves employers by helping them find the right workers from entry-level to highly skilled candidates.