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Hiring resources · New Jersey

New Jersey hiring resources: free help finding applicants

The 6 official New Jersey 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: New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce DevelopmentJob bank: NJ JobSource / Job Zone
 

Know who you’re calling

Where New Jersey 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 New Jersey: New Jersey offers $25,000 Federal Bonding and On-the-Job Training reimbursement of up to 50% of wages, both useful alongside these channels. Blind and low-vision services are separate under CBVI.

State workforce agency

New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

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

NJ JobSource / Job Zone

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

New Jersey Dept. of Veterans Affairs

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

NJ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS)

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

NJDOL — Services for Justice-Involved Clients

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

NJDOL — Apprenticeship: Become an Employer Sponsor

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 New Jersey 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.

New Jersey employer questions

Hiring in New Jersey: common questions

Where can employers in New Jersey find job applicants?

Start with New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development. 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 NJ JobSource / Job Zone, the state’s public job bank, as well.

Where can employers in New Jersey find veterans to hire?

Start with New Jersey Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Local Veterans’ Employment Representatives also work inside the New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development job centers and work directly with employers who want to hire veterans.

Where can New Jersey employers find job candidates with disabilities?

NJ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) 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 New Jersey have a reentry or second-chance hiring program?

Yes. NJDOL — Services for Justice-Involved Clients 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 New Jersey?

Post on NJ JobSource / Job Zone 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 New Jersey’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 →