Unemployment Help

Find help from the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program.

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.

Dislocated Worker Presentation: Description of Dislocated Worker Services, eligibility information, and how to apply.
Fill out the Dislocated Worker interest form, and a counselor will contact you to discuss next steps.

Income-based programs

• Diversionary Work Program is a four-months program for 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 is a comprehensive work-focused program for low-income families. 
  • The goals 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 the income-based programs, please visit and contact Economic Support.

Common Employment and Training Program Forms

• Monthly Activity Log (PDF).
• SNAP Employment and Training Employment Services Weekly Activity Log (PDF).
• Provider Opinion Form (PDF).

For additional program information, call 651-275-8702.

Services for Young Adults, Ages 14-24

Services for youth and young adults include:

• Career planning.
• Job search assistance.
• Assistance with tuition costs and other post-high school training.
• Paid work experience.

We also contract with Tree Trust to offer summer jobs in which young adults work on outdoor landscaping projects in county or city parks.

Questions, please contact wfcyouthprogram@co.washington.mn.us

Applications accepted for youth ages 16-24: Young Adult Services Application (PDF).

Workshops

Provides the most up-to-date job search and career assessment workshops to any job seeker. TIP: Check your email spam folder for JOIN LINKS to the online classes.

• Register for workshops
• Description of classes

NOW (Non-Traditional Opportunities for Women)

NOW is a 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).

Eligibility

• Must be a Minnesota resident, women, at least 18 years old, and eligible to work in the U.S.
• And, must meet one of the following:
  • Be a person of color.
  • Have a low income. 
  • Or, be age 50 and older.
• Average starting pay, metro area is $18.02 per hour.
• For more information please call Program Coordinator Angela Plumbo at 651-275-8685 or email .

North Star Promise Scholarship Program

Beginning in fall 2024, the North Star Promise (NSP) Scholarship program will create a tuition and fee-free pathway to higher education for eligible Minnesota residents at eligible institutions as a "last-dollar" program by covering the balance of tuition and fees remaining after other scholarships, grants, stipends and tuition waivers have been applied.

Other Resources for Short-Term Trainings

• CareerForce Training Program search
• Department of Labor Apprenticeships
• Job Connect Training Dashboard
• CareerWise Education Search Tool - Short-Term Trainings
• GOODWILL Easter Seals programs
• Summit Academy OIC programs
• Job Corps programs

Dislocated Worker Services

If you are 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 651-275-8680 for eligibility. 

Career Fairs

To participate in a career fair or to discuss any of these resources, call 651-275-7265.

Washington County CDA

• Open to Business 
• Business Services

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

• 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.
• 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

• Work Opportunity Credit
• Federal Bonding Programs

Future Forward

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.

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. 
• Call 651-275-7265 for more information.

Young Adult Program

• Promoting worksite placement, applicant referrals, and some wage payment for youth ages 18-24. 
• Future Forward 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 labor market information on economic data and trends, skills of the available workforce, wage, and salary information by area.

Entrepreneurs

• Starting a Business
• Small Business Administration
• Small Business Development Centers
• Small Business Hub