Resources for Employment and Unemployment for Issaquah & Sammamish
WorkSource: Find Complete List of Workshops on WorkSource Calendar
2026 MLK Opportunity Career Fair Jan 19, 2026 Join us for the Annual MLK Opportunity Fair! This event is a powerful opportunity to explore your future! You’ll be able to connect with training and apprenticeship programs, discover career pathways, and meet employers ready to support your next step. It’s a great way to launch or grow your career. This is your moment—take the next step toward the future! Resume help, career coaching, ability to connect directly with recruiters, and raffle prizes! Don't miss out on this opportunity and REGISTER TODAY! Visit link for list of participating companies and organizations.
Join Us for Career Transition Training Workshops/Funding for Education Jan 20, 2026 Auburn Join us for the Career Transition Retraining workshop. Learn more about the tools and resources there are for exploring career transitions, and what training and educational options there are to ease the transition. These are in-person meetings
WorkSource King County Job Fair Wednesday, January 28, 2026 | 2 – 5pm Auburn Join us for the King County Job Fair — a dynamic event connecting job seekers with employers across the region. Whether you're launching your career, exploring new opportunities, or seeking a fresh start. Discover openings in public service, healthcare, technology, trades, and more. All jobseekers are welcomed. All veterans are encouraged to attend, we hope to see you there! This event will be taking place near the Auburn Airport at Orion Industries
WorkSource: Job and Resume Assistance KCLS Renton Stop by the WorkSource table in the library for assistance with your resume, preparing for interviews, finding job fairs or exploring your career options. Registration not required.
Unemployment Benefits Support: Learn how to apply and navigate the process, Available in multiple languages: Arabic, Somali, Amharic, Tigrinya, Pashto, Urdu, Farsi, Dari, Ukrainian, Russian, English. Call 206-443-9999 to speak with a navigator
The Circle: GED [SPANISH] Jan - Dec 2026
Join our GED Test Preparation program! The GED (General Educational Development) test offers an alternative to a high school diploma, providing the same opportunities for employment and further education. Passing the GED demonstrates that test-takers have the same level of knowledge and skills as a high school graduate, which can lead to better-paying jobs, career advancement, scholarships, and the ability to enroll in college or university. Classes will be offered on Tuesdays from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at The Circle.
Check The Circle Calendar for more work training and other classes and events
Jan 2026: Are you in need of an intern? The Community Jobs Program can help! • Interns work for 20 hours/week for up to 9 months • The YWCA pays intern wages and provides support to the intern and worksite • Interns can be hired as regular staff . Community Jobs clients are receiving TANF and referred by DSHS. Participants have a wide range of professional experience, skills and education. Positions cannot be a replacement for staff that were laid off or otherwise replace a paid staff position but as an enhancement to your workforce.
CareerWork$ Ready 2025 Dates: Sept 8, Oct 27. Free 3-week online job preparation course. 4 days per week, 2.5 hours per day via Zoom. Focus on resume writing, interview skills, and professional presence. Multiple 2025 sessions available throughout the year. Find more information HERE & Schedule HERE
BankWork$: 2025 Dates: Sept 22. BankWork$ is a FREE, online/hybrid, interactive class that prepares you for a stable and advancement-oriented career in the financial industry. Participants must be 18 or older, have a high school diploma or GED, be fluent in written and spoken English, possess basic computer skills, and have cash handling experience. Find more information HERE & Schedule HERE
PharmacyWork$: 2025 Dates: Aug 26, 2025 is a free, online job readiness training created in response to help meet the needs of today’s workforce and the need to help job seekers reenter the workforce. PharmacyWork$ is designed to help job seekers access critical job opportunities currently available and to prepare for the jobs that are in high demand and growing to meet the needs of today’s workforce. The program consists of a 5-week course offered completely online using Zoom and focused on preparing students to enter the pharmacy field and to pursue certification including the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s PTCB exam. Fine more information HERE
Lake Washington Institute of Technology: Worker Retraining
Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) offers a Worker Retraining program for unemployed individuals who are receiving or have exhausted unemployment insurance within the last 48 months. The program provides financial assistance for training through Commissioner Approved Training (CAT)/Training Benefits (TB).
Our short-term training classes are designed to give individuals the lifelong skills that will help them find gainful employment opportunities. Forklift Certification: This 2-week course will prepare you to obtain your 3-year OSHA forklift certification card. You will learn a variety of skills and receive hands-on training that you can use within your role as a forklift operator. Warehouse Distribution This 2-week course will prepare you for work within a warehouse setting. You will learn various elements of what it is like to be a warehouse associate. You will receive a certificate of completion at the end of training preparing you for your new role. Computer/Customer Service This 2-week course will provide valuable computer and customer service skills that you can implement within any career. You will receive technology skills as well as soft skills for navigating any work environment. CPR & First Aid This 4-hour class will prepare you for various safety and emergency situations that may arise in any setting. At the end of this class, you will receive a 2-year CPR/First Aid card through the American Red Cross. Employment Services From the moment an individual steps into our office, they are assigned an employment specialist who is there to assist them in achieving their goals as it relates to employment. Our approach is individualized and designed to meet individuals where they are at. Here is what you can expect from our employment services: Resume Creation & Development, Interview Skills & Techniques, Job Search assistance & Leads. Please visit our website for eligibility information, as Individuals MUST qualify under certain programs to receive training and employment services.
KCLS: Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) Information Desk Bellevue View all dates
Get information on Labor & Industries (L&I) programs and services with a specialist. All languages welcome. If needed, you will be connected to interpreter services. Topics include: workers' rights (wages. breaks, paid sick leaves, file complaints), claims for injured workers, workplace safety, benefits for crime victims, small business information, Sponsored by the Washington Department of Labor and & Industries Community Relations. Registration not required. Walk-ins welcome.
Highline College Pre-Nursing Cohort
Receive paid tuition, free laptop, assistance with academic plan, peer support and access to tutoring center. Check flyer for eligibility.
Friends of Youth: Job Club @ Willows Youth Services Center in Kirkland
Every Tuesday from 3:30 to 4:30pm, Leslie Nelson, Friends of Youth’s Employment Case Manager, leads the Job Club in the library at Willows Youth Services Center. Leslie provides personalized guidance on essential skills like resume building, interview preparation, and workplace success strategies. Occasionally, she invites special guests to share insights about their careers, giving clients a firsthand look at various job opportunities. Leslie's approach is all about meeting clients where they are. Whether someone needs help finding interview attire or is seeking a referral through our partnerships with local businesses, she tailors her support to each individual's unique needs. Job Club is a supportive space and a steppingstone where clients can build confidence and gain the tools they need to succeed in the workforce. Interested in being a guest speaker? Contact volunteer@friendsofyouth.org for more info!
KCLS: Programs Available
Earn a Certification from Home Are you ready to earn a software or technology skill certification while you’re at home from school or work? KCLS can connect you to proctored online certification exams offered by Certiport. Learn, practice, and prepare to get a certification at the King County Library System (KCLS). A certification is a great way to prove your skills in school or at work.
Adobe Certified Associate (ACA): Photoshop, InDesign
Business: Entrepreneurship and Small Business, QuickBooks Online
Digital Literacy: Internet Core Competency, Microsoft Certified Educator
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA): Python, Azure, HTML5
Career Skills Series with Upwardly Global: Resumes Free video. Career Skills Series with Upwardly Global: Resumes Learn the basics of resume building with KCLS and Upwardly Global. Upwardly Global (UpGlo) is a non-profit organization supporting immigrants and refugees entering the U.S. workforce.
GCF LearnFree.org Take free online classes. Topics include: * technology * work * core skills * reading * math * languages * and more.
AtWork! is a supported employment agency, supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to get good jobs, increase community connection, and successfully transition to life after high school. Since 1962, we’ve been advocating at the local, state, and federal level for supported employment opportunities. We’re passionate about creating integrated employment opportunities for the people we serve and are dedicated to successful outcomes for inclusive businesses.
IKRON (Integration of Knowledge and Resources for Occupational Needs) provides integrated quality behavioral health and employment services to the greater Seattle Area. Services that are available at IKRON include Employment Services, Behavioral Health, Transitional Youth Services, Health Home, and Integrated Care/PACT Services.
The Hopelink Employment Program Closed May 30, 2025
We’re sorry that we cannot accept any new clients as the program closed May 30, 2025. Please refer to additional employment resources on our webpage for other options to meet your needs. We wish you the best!
Hopelink’s Digital Skills program is closed. We are here to help you find other services in the community to develop your digital skills! Local libraries offer free access to computers and resources for developing technology skills. See below for opportunities from the King County Library System, and Seattle Public Libraries.
Hopelink GED Program and English For Work Program
English for Work Program: Beginner: Registration open: Nov. 1 – 30, 2025 Classes are held Jan. 12 – March 19, 2026 Students learn: English letters and numbers, How to read and write in English, Vocabulary useful for work and daily life. Students may spend three months to about one year in the program, depending on their learning needs. Intermediate: Registration open: Oct. 13 – Dec. 1, 2025 Classes are held Jan. 12 – March 19, 2026. Students develop English speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills while learning how to: Set career goals, Write a résumé, Search and apply for jobs, Do a job interview. Intermediate and advanced level classes are designed for those who plan to get a job in the U.S. or enroll in job training or college to prepare for employment within the next six months. Students participate in class for one quarter (about three months).
GED/High School+ Hopelink’s GED/High School+ program ended May 30, 2025, and we are not accepting new students. Please see our webpage for a list of other programs and resources available in our community. There are options for earning your GED and for earning your high school diploma through a program called “High School+” (High School Plus). If you have questions about finding a program that is a good fit for you, please complete the contact form below.
ReWa English Classes
ReWA offers employment-related English classes (ESL, ELL) to help our clients transition to life in the U.S. and secure long-term employment. Our literacy program provides newcomers with a positive environment to help them gain and improve English language skills and break down the barriers to employment. Classes are online and in-person. Eligibility: Refugees, asylees, special immigrants from Afghanistan and Iraq, and TANF recipients.
Renton Technical College GED PREPARATION
The GED certificate is equivalent to a high school diploma. It will help you enter further education, meet eligibility requirements for financial aid, meet requirements for a job or promotion, or achieve personal goals. The GED can also be a gateway to a high school diploma. Course is online and self-paced. The fee is $25 per quarter (waivers are available). Email or call us at (206) 880-1704 for more information and registration forms. Anyone interested will be placed on a waitlist for Spring Quarter 2025 (starts April 7).
KCLS: Earn Your High School Diploma—Free through Your Library
Gain the skills you need to succeed through a flexible, supportive, online program. Earn an Accredited Diploma: Available by scholarship through select public libraries, Career Online High School (COHS) offers adults the opportunity to complete their high school education. Prepare for Career Success: Earn a career certificate as part of the program. Additionally, you’ll graduate with a resume, cover letter, and other tools to start or advance your career. Get Support Every Step of the Way: Your success is our top priority. You’ll have access to library staff, an academic coach, certified instructors, and technical support.
Bellevue College: Welcome to Workforce Education
Need help paying for college? Bellevue College Workforce Education offers grants for tuition, books, and transportation! You may qualify if you receive SNAP/EBT, TANF, unemployment benefits, or are considered low-income. Join their info session every Tuesday at 2:30pm on Zoom. Office: | 425-564-4054. Email: workforce-ed@bellevuecollege.edu
Bellevue College Continuing Education Winter 2025 Updates
The College will close the Tombolo Institute at the end of the fall quarter this year. In addition, Continuing Education will no longer offer professional education and technology non-credit courses and certificates. If you are currently enrolled in a non-credit certificate program, there is no impact.
We will also scale down our offerings and focus on what the community wants and needs: personal enrichment, languages, and our TELOS Lifelong Learners 55+ program. We will be providing support for students who may be impacted by these changes.
With that said, Continuing Education Winter Registration is Now Open and we invite you to explore more than 60 Bellevue College Continuing Education Winter Personal Enrichment, TELOS Lifelong Learners (55+), and World Language courses. We hope you find something that inspires you to learn something new in 2026!
Lake Washington Institute of Technology Worker Retraining Program
The Worker Retraining program at LWTech provides funding and support for eligible dislocated and unemployed workers in training or retraining that will assist them in regaining employment.
ReWA: Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA)
ReWa is an award-winning, nationally recognized nonprofit that provides holistic services to help refugee and immigrant women and families thrive
Employment Case Management and Job Readiness Training: Many refugees and immigrants arrive in the U.S. with limited job histories and non-transferable skills, making it difficult to find employment
Health Care Aide Training Program: ReWA offers FREE Home Care Aide training for refugees and immigrants! Use this entry-level certification to start a career in healthcare.
Worksource Connection: As a Worksource Connection site in King County, ReWA offers online access to WorkSource services. These services include, for example, online job search, job seeker resources, unemployment services, and tutorials on topics like resume writing and interviewing.
TRAC Associates JOB HELP FOR PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
TRAC Associates provides funding for training, help with job searches and résumé writing, work-related supplies, peer and group counseling, expungement services, and transportation. Services are available to King County residents who’ve been recently released, recently charged, or pre-released from the criminal legal system.
2024 Construction Apprenticeship Guidebook
Are you considering a career in construction? Then you have come to the right place. We need trained professionals to build structures like our homes, offices, high-rises, roads and bridges. These projects are essential to our everyday life and need hundreds of workers trained in more than 20 different building trades. Building trades (also called crafts) include laborers, ironworkers, cement masons, carpenters, heavy equipment operators, plumbers, sheet metal workers, painters and many more. This book will help you get started down the pathway to become one of these skilled professionals. You do not need construction skills to get started; the professionals will teach you what you need to know. If you need English language classes to help prepare you for training, see the English Language Learning Opportunities section of the book.
DSHS: Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
People with disabilities can work with DVR to get a job and learn about job options. DVR offers tools, services, and support. DVR has offices all over Washington state and has been a community partner for more than 80 years. As of March 17, 2025, individuals determined eligible in priority categories 3, 4, and 5 will be placed on a waiting list. * Priority category 1 and 2 are open continuously (no waiting). * Priority category 3, 4, and 5 are closed (waiting list). Services We Provide:
We provide individualized vocational rehabilitation counseling, employment services and supports to people with disabilities who want to work, but face substantial barriers in finding meaningful and sustained employment.
We provide technical assistance and training to businesses regarding the recruiting and hiring of people with disabilities.
The Unemployment Law Project (ULP) advocates for workers in Washington State to advance their economic security during periods of unemployment. The ULP also pursues legislative, regulatory, and policy changes to hold government agencies and employers accountable, thereby strengthening equitable practices for unemployed workers. With offices in Seattle and Spokane, Washington, we offer our services to anyone with a Washington State claim.
King County Energize – Family Home Childcares Program
We’re excited to announce the 2026 launch of Energize – Family Home Child Cares! This program is open to licensed family home child cares, operated out of single-family homes, in King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties. If selected for the program, King County provides program participants with a combination of the following installations, depending on the building’s needs: - Heat pumps for high efficiency space heating and cooling - Insulation, air sealing, and ventilation (also known as weatherization) to improve energy efficiency, health, and comfort - Heat pump water heaters for low-cost water heating - Induction cookstoves. King County will manage all installations, including covering the costs of equipment and materials, and hiring and paying contractors. This is not a grant program. Apply Online . To learn more, check out the Energize – Family Home Child Cares website, and sign up to join an upcoming information session (online):
Some Local Job Opportunities
Connections Health Centers: We are HIRING!Job Listings at Connections Health Solutions (icims.com)
Renton Technical College Open Positions can be found HERE