Resources for Job Seekers
The State of Arizona provides workforce support to job seekers through a number of agencies. Assistance is primarily offered by 3 agencies: the Arizona Department of Commerce, the Arizona Department of Education and the Arizona Department of Economic Security; but there are a total 7 partners in Arizona's workforce development system that can be called upon for help.
How can Arizona support your workforce development? Are you looking for...
- Help finding a job? Reemployment Services? Your first call should be to the One-Stop Centers. There are a number of centers across Arizona: click here to find the one closest to you. You may also want to consider using the state's free website for online job posting and job searches: Virtual One-Stop (VOS). The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers an Employment Service Program to connect employers and job seekers. Of course, a job fair is another useful resource when searching for open positions. Another program focuses on people that face layoffs. It is called the Rapid Reemployment Initiative and one of the goals of this program is to connect displaced employees with hiring employers.
- Resume development assistance? Career Counseling & Skill Assessments? One-on-one support for individuals who are seeking jobs is provided at the One-Stop Centers. There are a number of centers across Arizona: click here to find the one closest to you.
- American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Stimulus Opportunities? Did you know that the ARRA also known as the Stimulus Package of 2009 offers special workforce opportunities for job seekers? Visit www.doleta.gov/USWORKFORCE/ for more information. The United States Department of Labor also provides an outline of the ARRA funds.
- Employee Rights and Laws? Local employment laws can be found at the Industrial Commission of Arizona. There are also federal employment laws job seekers need to be aware of. These federal laws can be accessed at the United States Department of Labor.
- Educational Opportunities? The Arizona Department of Education's Adult Education Services ensures that learners 16 years of age and older have access to quality educational opportunities. In addition, they offer Career and Technical Education Services that prepares Arizona students for workforce success and continuous learning. Another resource is the Neighborhood Networks which is offered by Housing and Urban Development. Be sure to visit the Job Corps center in Phoenix or Tucson for no-cost education and career technical training program that helps young people ages 16 through 24 improve the quality of their lives.
- Training Programs? Surely you have heard of the Job Training Grant Program, but what about the Apprenticeship Program? Both of these programs are administered by the Arizona Department of Commerce and provide unique training opportunities. For individuals in the IT industry, consider the AzIT program. There are also a number of certified training professionals that you may want to contact. The list is on the Arizona Department of Education's website: arizonaheat
The Arizona Department of Economic Security also offers a number of training programs, including:
- Adult Program - The purpose of the program is to provide core, intensive and training services to individuals age 18 and older who are at or lower than a level of self-sufficiency.
- Dislocated Worker Program - The purpose of the program is to provide services to individuals who have been terminated or laid off, or have received notice of termination or layoff, from employment generally due to plant closures or downsizing; and who meet the dislocated worker definition of a displaced homemaker.
- Youth Program - The program provides services to youth ages 14-21. The main thrust of the Youth Program is to increase the focus on longer-term academic and occupational learning opportunities and provide long-term comprehensive service strategies. Youth services are provided to in-school youth ages 14-21 and out-of-school youth ages 16-21. Additional resources are offered in the region you are located in. Click here to view resources by region.
- Senior Community Service Employment Program - The program fosters useful part-time training opportunities (community service assignments) with non-profit or public/government agencies (host agencies) for unemployed low-income persons who are 55 years of age or older who have poor employment prospects. At the conclusion of training, program participants are assisted in pursuing and securing employment opportunities.
- Veteran's Programs - The primary objective of the Veterans Program is to develop and support programs that increase opportunities for veterans to obtain employment and job training in Arizona.
- Trade Assistance Act - The Trade Act of 1974, amended in 2002, created a program of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) to provide re-employment services and benefits to trade-affected workers. Workers who become totally or partially separated or are threatened to become separated from employment as a direct result of increased foreign imports or a shift in production to foreign countries that are party to Free Trade Agreements with the United States, are considered primarily affected workers and may be eligible for TAA.
- Migrant Seasonal Farm Workers - the American farmworker population is served through two main programs. The National Farmworker Jobs Program is a nationally directed program of job training and employment assistance for migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFWs). The National Monitor Advocate monitors and reviews the compliance of state agencies with Job Service (JS) regulations affecting MSFWs and offers technical assistance to the ETA regional offices and State agencies in carrying out JS regulations and programs.
- Vocational Rehabilitation - The program helps people with disabilities become or remain economically independent through work.
One-Stop Centers help job seekers by providing free services including; job placement, skills assessments, job training, career counseling, resume development and more.
Access job and training information without getting in your car. Visit Arizona's virtual One-Stop Center at: www.arizonavirtualonestop.com. Hosted by the Arizona Department of Economic Security, this site provides all of the information you'd find at a physical One-Stop Service center, but in digital format. You can Get help selecting a new career, finding a new job, and locating suitable education or training. Help is only a click away!
Local Employment Laws - The Industrial Commission of Arizona oversees occupational safety and health issues, compliance responsibilities for youth employment laws, resolution of wage disputes under $2,500, vocational rehabilitation for injured workers and licensing of worker's compensation pools.
Federal Employment Laws - elaws stands for "employment laws assistance for workers and small businesses." The elaws website was developed to help employers and workers understand their rights and responsibilities under the federal employment laws administered by the United States Department of Labor.
- FirstStep Employment Law Advisor is designed to help employers determine which federal employment laws administered by the U.S. Department of Labor apply to their business or organization, what record keeping and reporting requirements they must comply with, and which posters they need to post. The Advisor can help all employers, including non-profit organizations, private sector businesses and government agencies.
Job Training Program - is a reimbursable grant program that supports the design and delivery of job-specific customized training. Businesses can apply for grants that return up to 75% of the costs of training net new employees. Training that upgrades the skills of your existing employees can be reimbursed up to a maximum of 50%. The program is streamlined, flexible and tailored to meet the specific needs of each employer, create new jobs and help increase the skill and wage levels of employees in Arizona. Unfortunately, this program is on hold until further notice. Updates will be posted at http://www.azcommerce.com/Workforce/Job Training/ as they become available.
Apprenticeship Program - is a training method that combines supervised on-the-job training with related classroom instruction to full-time employees. It's sponsored by employers who are committed to providing full-time jobs to individuals that are willing to be trained in a specific industry.
AzIT - provides training in the areas of Software Testing, Software Development and Engineering Quality into Software Development. The program is available through an instructor led course at Northland Pioneer College and Mesa Community College or for free online at www.azworkforceconnection.com/azit.
Neighborhood Networks was one of the first federal initiatives aimed at promoting self-sufficiency and providing technology access to residents living in the U.S. These centers:
- Offer adults job-training classes, such as computer skills, resume writing, interviewing techniques, job placement services, General Educational Development (GED) preparation, and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.
- Provide youth with educational after school activities and mentoring programs.
- Operate programs that allow seniors to become familiar with computers and use them to better their lives, whether through staying in touch with family and friends via e-mail or searching for healthcare benefits online.
Employment Service - Is a network of public employment offices providing placement services to job seekers and labor force recruitment services to employers.
Youth Services by Region
- Coconino County Career Center offers a variety of employment and education training programs for youth ages 16-21. These opportunities include: skills training, internships, workshops, alternative school services, leadership development, and much more!
- Gila County and Pinal County
- Globe (928) 425-3181
- Superior (520) 689-9044
- Casa Grande (520) 836-1887
- Maricopa County
- Maricopa Workforce Connections - (602) 372-4204
Provides youth programs designed to assist youth with barriers to education and employment.
- Arizona Call-A-Teen - (602) 252-6721
Helping our most vulnerable young people become contributors to a healthy community and a robust economy. AZ Call-A-Teen's vision is that young people:
- Obtain the academic, vocational, personal, and social skills necessary to complete requirements for a high school credential and enter post secondary education or training;
- Are employed in jobs that support themselves and their families well;
- Are valued as key contributors to the community's healthy growth and development.
- Town of Guadalupe (480) 505-5376
- City of Tempe Youth Employment - (480) 350-5627
The Tempe Youth Employment Program is a free educational service for youth ages 13-21 that attend school or live in Tempe, Arizona.
- Gilbert Youth Employment Service (480) 497-3300 ext 137
- City of Scottsdale - (480) 312-7922
The Scottsdale Teen Employment Program is designed to prepare and connect teens (age 14 to 19 years old who live in Scottsdale or attend a Scottsdale school) with year round employment opportunities in Scottsdale.
- Chandler Public Schools (480) 883-5030
- Mesa Youth Placement Service (Mesa Public Schools) - (480) 472-0500
- City of Phoenix
- Chicanos Por La Causa – (602) 269-6485
The Workforce Development Center (WDC) offers three different programs that revolve around education, employment and training. The Adult Program under the Workforce Investment Act, (WIA) works with individuals eighteen (18) years of age and older. The WDC in partnership with the City of Phoenix also offers The Summer Youth Work Experience Program which provides city youth between the ages of fourteen (14) through eighteen (18) in school and out-of-school youth obtain job exposure in various professions, paid hands on work experience plus the opportunity to see and experience the importance of an education.
- Goodwill Industries – (602) 254-2222
Workforce Development programs and services that offer job training, education and career services to youth and adults seeking self-sufficiency.
- Job Corps - (602) 322-2886
A no-cost education and career technical training program that helps young people ages 16 through 24 improve the quality of their lives through career technical and academic training.
- Navajo County
- Basic Education
- Northern Arizona Academy - (928) 536-4222
Provides students (9-12 grade, in-school students) with the resources to develop academic, social, emotional, physical, and cultural skills necessary to become responsible citizens who are lifelong learners and problem solvers.
- Occupational Skills/GED
- Northland Pioneer College - (800) 266-7845 ext. 6504 or (928) 289-6504
Northland Pioneer College Career Services supports students, alumni, and community members while encouraging self-direction and responsibility in career and life-planning.
- Navajo Nation
- Fort Defiance (928) 729-4180
- Chinle (928) 674-2177
- Tuba City (505) 283-3333
- Pima County
- Pima County Youth Services - (520) 243-6700
we can help you make a career plan, set long term goals, build a strong support system, gain work experience, develop your skill set, figure out what to do next summer, figure out how to pay for college, increase your self-confidence, make better choices, and more
- Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) - (520)884-5550
A non-profit employment, job training, and education organization with locations in Durango and Alamosa, Colorado, and Tucson, Arizona. SCC formed as a merger of the Southwest Youth Corps and the Youth Corps of Southern Arizona.
- Yavapai County
- Yavapai County - (928) 774-1895
Yavapai Workforce Connection One-Stop Center provides access 17 different employment/training services from a single location.
- Yuma County
- Additional Statewide Workforce Development Services
- Arizona Department of Education
- STRIVE for Students - Helping people to discover their purpose in life by providing the best, most interesting and most comprehensive career training available.
Arizona Workforce Connection