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Hiring resources · District of Columbia

District of Columbia hiring resources: free help finding applicants

The 6 official District of Columbia offices that help employers find qualified people at no cost: the state workforce agency, job bank, veterans employment, vocational rehabilitation, reentry and apprenticeship. Every link was checked against the agency’s own site in October 2026. This guide is a free resource from WOTC Plus.

Workforce agency: DC Dept. of Employment Services (DOES)Job bank: DC Networks
 

Know who you’re calling

Where District of Columbia employers can find applicants

Each office below works with a different kind of job seeker. Here is who you may meet through each one, and who to ask for when you call.

What to know in District of Columbia: The District is both the state workforce agency and the local workforce board, so DOES is the single employer contact for job matching. Vocational rehabilitation is not in DOES — it is the Rehabilitation Services Administration inside the Dept. on Disability Services. DC also has a First Source hiring law for District-assisted projects that often pairs with these channels.

State workforce agency

DC Dept. of Employment Services (DOES)

Job seekers you may meet

  • People between jobs, including the long-term unemployed
  • Laid-off workers retraining through WIOA programs
  • People finishing short-term job training and certifications
  • Career changers and recent graduates

When you call Ask for the business services team at your nearest American Job Center.

State job bank

DC Networks

Job seekers you may meet

  • People on unemployment who are actively searching for work
  • Job seekers registered with the state job center
  • Candidates case managers are placing from other programs

When you call Create a free employer account and post your openings.

Veterans employment

Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs (MOVA)

Job seekers you may meet

  • Recently separated and transitioning service members
  • Veterans with logistics, driving and team-lead experience
  • Veterans with a service-connected disability working with the VA
  • Veterans who have been out of work and want to get back in

When you call Ask the job center for its Local Veterans’ Employment Representative (LVER).

Vocational rehabilitation

DC Dept. on Disability Services — Vocational Rehabilitation

Job seekers you may meet

  • Job-ready adults with a physical, sensory or other disability
  • Blind and low-vision candidates through state blind services
  • People returning to work through Ticket to Work
  • Candidates who arrive with a job coach for the first weeks

When you call Ask for the business relations or employer services counselor.

Reentry & second chance

Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs (MORCA)

Job seekers you may meet

  • People recently released from prison or jail
  • People on probation or parole who have a case manager
  • Candidates who completed job training while incarcerated

When you call Ask for the reentry employment specialist or job developer.

Apprenticeship & youth

DC DOES — Apprenticeships (DC Apprenticeship Council)

Job seekers you may meet

  • Young adults in WIOA youth and Job Corps programs
  • Summer youth workers
  • Apprentices who earn while they learn
  • Career changers entering a registered apprenticeship

When you call Ask how to start or join a registered apprenticeship program.

Before you pick up the phone

How to call a District of Columbia agency and get applicants

These offices want employer partners. A five-minute call is usually all it takes to start getting referrals.

  1. 1

    Ask for the employer team

    Use the “when you call” line above. Most offices have a business services or employer relations contact separate from the job-seeker front desk.

  2. 2

    Have your openings ready

    Job titles, pay, schedule, shift times, location, start date, and any license or background requirements.

  3. 3

    Ask what they can do for you

    Candidate referrals, job postings, hiring events, interview space, and training support. Every office is different.

  4. 4

    Get a name and stay in touch

    Ask who your contact will be and how candidates will reach you. Tell them when you hire someone they sent, so they keep sending people.

District of Columbia employer questions

Hiring in District of Columbia: common questions

Where can employers in District of Columbia find job applicants?

Start with DC Dept. of Employment Services (DOES). Its business services team will post your openings, refer pre-screened candidates and can host a hiring event, at no cost. Post your openings on DC Networks, the state’s public job bank, as well.

Where can employers in District of Columbia find veterans to hire?

Start with Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs (MOVA). Local Veterans’ Employment Representatives also work inside the DC Dept. of Employment Services (DOES) job centers and work directly with employers who want to hire veterans.

Where can District of Columbia employers find job candidates with disabilities?

DC Dept. on Disability Services — Vocational Rehabilitation works with job seekers with disabilities and with the employers who hire them. Counselors refer job-ready candidates and can support them after hire with job coaching, training and help with workplace accommodations.

Does District of Columbia have a reentry or second-chance hiring program?

Yes. Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs (MORCA) connects employers with people returning from incarceration who are ready to work. Ask about the Federal Bonding Program too, a free fidelity bond that protects the employer during the first months of employment.

Where should I post jobs in District of Columbia?

Post on DC Networks in addition to commercial job boards. Job center staff and case managers search these listings when they place candidates, including the long-term unemployed.

Do District of Columbia’s hiring services cost employers anything?

No. The workforce agency, job bank, veterans employment, vocational rehabilitation, reentry and apprenticeship offices listed on this page are publicly funded, and their recruiting help is free to employers.

Hiring through one of these programs? WOTC Plus can help with your new hires →