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Hiring resources · North Carolina

North Carolina hiring resources: free help finding applicants

The 6 official North Carolina 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: NC Commerce — Division of Workforce Solutions (NCWorks)Job bank: NCWorks Online
 

Know who you’re calling

Where North Carolina 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 North Carolina: Blind and low-vision VR is a separate division (NC Services for the Blind), and ApprenticeshipNC is the official state apprenticeship agency despite its .edu address.

State workforce agency

NC Commerce — Division of Workforce Solutions (NCWorks)

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

NCWorks Online

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

NC Military and Veterans Affairs — Employment Services

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

NC DHHS — Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

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

NC Commerce — Former Offenders Seeking Jobs

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

ApprenticeshipNC

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 North Carolina 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.

North Carolina employer questions

Hiring in North Carolina: common questions

Where can employers in North Carolina find job applicants?

Start with NC Commerce — Division of Workforce Solutions (NCWorks). 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 NCWorks Online, the state’s public job bank, as well.

Where can employers in North Carolina find veterans to hire?

Start with NC Military and Veterans Affairs — Employment Services. Local Veterans’ Employment Representatives also work inside the NC Commerce — Division of Workforce Solutions (NCWorks) job centers and work directly with employers who want to hire veterans.

Where can North Carolina employers find job candidates with disabilities?

NC DHHS — Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services 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 North Carolina have a reentry or second-chance hiring program?

Yes. NC Commerce — Former Offenders Seeking Jobs 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 North Carolina?

Post on NCWorks Online 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 North Carolina’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 →