Employment in Washington, DC is becoming increasingly difficult
In fact, as of August, DC The unemployment rate is 6.0% –– The best in the country. The unemployment rate has risen 0.7% since August 2024.
About 17% of DC residents lived in poverty 2024, and Alienated communities were hit hardest. Last year, 30.5% of black residents and 11.9% of Latinos live in poverty, while the poverty rate among non-Hispanic white residents was only 4.6%.
With little room for economic liquidity in Washington, DC, several organizations and nonprofits are struggling to change these statistics.
From on-site training to employment counseling, we present several local and government groups working to serve the unemployed in Washington, D.C.
LGBTQ-focused programs
Caesar Toledo, executive director of the Wanda Alston Foundation, knows firsthand the hardships of getting out of poverty.
Toledo, a first-generation Latinos born in an immigrant family, said he was able to escape the poverty cycle through educational opportunities.
“By serving as the foundation’s executive director and supporting the most vulnerable people in our community, I have given me a frontline perspective on the work I need to do to ensure that not only will our youth survive, but will also grow independently, live alone and afford their own apartment,” Toledo said.
The Wanda Alston Foundation offers a range of services that open new paths to economic mobility, including housing for homeless LGBTQ youth in Washington, DC, free counseling and accessible employment opportunities. The foundation also provides educational support to help detained youth continue their efforts to ensure education.
The organization recently launched an initiative called “Slay & Sauté,” offering its supporters the opportunity to learn cooking skills that will ultimately open the door to a chef’s career.
Email: [email protected]
phone: 202-465-8794 Contact us@wandaalstonfoundati
Project LEAP is a program sponsored by Damien Ministries that supports job seekers in the DC area who identify as transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary.
You can request a one-on-one job coach pair and provide the tools you need to train pre-employment and overcome financial barriers.
Project LEAP has two other programs specifically for job seekers. One is a support group called Project LEAP We Thrive, which discusses employment challenges faced by men of color. The other is called Project LEAP Job Start, which helps early career job seekers receive job guidance and ensure they have reached the standard of their resume and interview skills.
We also offer a “Style Closet” where job seekers can receive advice on dressing for interviews.
Email: [email protected]
DC LGBTQ+ Community Center Job Club
The DC LGBTQ+ Community Centre hosts weekly job club meetings to help those who are looking for employment or who are struggling to find a job.
The group’s goal is to “enhance confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job search and networking, allowing participants to go from just ‘applicants’ to ‘candidates’,” the website states.
Meetings will be held every Wednesday from 6pm on Zoom
Email: [email protected]
Government Resources
Practical training will be conducted
The Office of Employment Services (DOES) offers on-site training opportunities for job seekers looking for ways to gain experience while maintaining employment.
Salaries range from $14 to $23.95 an hour depending on the job, with employees having to work at least 32 hours a week.
Some of the types of jobs an employee may work for include management, real estate management, product sales, healthcare, law enforcement, hospitality, and transportation services.
Email: [email protected]
vocational skills training will be carried out
If you need more detailed advice, our employment specialists can help local employers obtain the training and certifications they need and guide them in the right direction. Training will focus on high-demand industries such as construction, healthcare, IT, and retail.
Email: [email protected]
For other services and resources, including DC staff rights and federal staff FAQs, please contact us. click here.
DC Sustainable Energy Business
The Sustainable Energy Utility program offers the opportunity to acquire the skills needed to get a green job.
These programs provide residents with five months of paid leave opportunities to observe and learn the various skills needed for environmentally friendly jobs. Anyone can join, whether they’re new to work, between jobs, or simply looking for new employment opportunities.
Potential work to learn include electrical engineering, solar power engineering, building maintenance, HVAC helper, and mechanical engineering.
Email: [email protected]
phone: 202-479-2222
The Human Rights Bureau provides the following resources to help employers understand how to combat employment bias and help employees understand their rights:
Transgenders employed –– To help employers recognize and understand how to address recruitment biases for transgender applicants.
Transgender applicant reviews –– To receive guidance on how to best support transgender applicants and employees beyond their legal obligations.
LGBTQIA+ Resource Portal –– To ensure that LGBTQIA+ employees or residents have a deeper understanding of their workforce and legal rights.
Vocational training opportunities for non-governmental organizations
SOME Center for Employment Training (CET) is a vocational college.
You can receive free vocational training in the healthcare and construction industries and receive advice on the skills needed to get the right job. From supporting your resume to creating the perfect cover letter, you can acquire both the practical experience and specialized skills needed to find a job.
Although high school GEDs are not required, the CET program also allows applicants with criminal history to participate.
Email: [email protected]
phone: 202-797-8806
By mail: 71 O St., NW, Washington, DC 20001
Academy of Hope offers career training programs in a variety of fields.
Healthcare programs include training for medical billing and coding, nursing assistants and phlebotomists.
For business, you can receive training in project management, and for information technology, you can participate in programs that may take on technical support, IT operations, and other similar fields.
These programs will run only from February to June. The classes offered included practical work by industry experts with the aim of ensuring students obtain entry-level certifications to remain competitive in highly-demand jobs after graduation.
Contact page: click here
Catholic charities offer courses that provide residents with the resources they need for their career paths.
The courses include work skills as a bank sales representative, construction work with sustainable solutions, and professional counseling.
Catholic charities also offer second language English courses and individual career support for adults with developmental disabilities.
Email: [email protected]
phone: 202-772-4300
District of Columbia University (UDC)
You don’t need to be a university student to take advantage of UDC’s Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning courses.
Learn the skills needed to get into jobs related to early childhood education, construction and real estate management, healthcare, hospitality and tourism, information technology and lifelong learning.
The courses are free, but some courses may require a minimum out-of-pocket fee.
Email: [email protected]
phone: 202-274-5000
UPOs allow you to obtain certifications in child development, cooking skills, plumbing, specialized building maintenance, information technology and more.
To begin the pre-registration process, you must be over 18 years old, graduated from high school or a GED, and not taking any drugs.
Contact form: click here
Source: Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News – www.washingtonblade.com
