Studies show that workers with more experience and  higher levels of training are more likely to find a secure and well-paying job. Unfortunately though, there are many highly trained unemployed people. One of the reasons for this is that some professions and careers are more in demand than others. For instance, if you live in Clallam, Washington and are a highly-experienced photographer, plumber,  or physicist, you are still going to struggle to find a job, because these are professions which are not in demand in that area. However, if you train to become an accountant, a bus driver, a chiropractor or a cook in the same area, your chances of finding a suitable job will increase, because these are occupations which are in high demand.

This article will help you find out what professions and occupations are in demand in your area and how to get the training to start working in these high-growth industries. All for free.

HIGH DEMAND OCCUPATIONS

Your first step is to find what jobs are in demand in your area of Washington. Click here for a list of high demand occupations in your area. This list is maintained by the Employment Security Department and is designed to help unemployed workers prioritize their search of employment and inform their selection of training opportunities. Another important factor when deciding which career to choose is that the Employment Security Department allocates resources first to unemployed workers whose current skills have become less relevant or marketable because of changes in the economy and technological advances and who want to train in skills in high demand in their local workforce. In other words, if you choose a profession which employers are not demanding you may not qualify for free training.

JOB TRAINING

Another option is to search for training on the job. This program allows unemployed workers to earn money by learning while at a job. This will help you earn hands-on experience while you earn a wage and get the training you need to become a professional in your new line of work. The benefits of this program are you learn job skills while working, receive a salary and unemployment benefits and have the chance of getting permanent employment with your trainer/employer at the end of your training. Click here to contact a local WorkSource office and learn more.

Believe it or not, unemployment can have a silver lining. It might not seem like it when you are struggling to put food on the table and pay those late bills. But unemployment may give you the chance to retrain in a high-demand career and find satisfying and better-paying jobs. The Employment Security Department offers unemployed workers training and help finding a job through WorkSource. This article will look briefly at how you can use these services.

Let us start with an edited list of your training options. Research shows that workers with a higher level of education and training have a better chance of finding secure jobs with higher wages.  If you are unemployed in Washington, you have a wide range of training programs you can join.

Free Mircrosoft Lessons.

Do you think your limited computing skills are making it harder for you to find a job? You are probably right. Understanding how to use word processors, spreadsheets and power point presentations, to mention a few, is a basic skill in many professions. Whether you are a waiter, an accountant, a maintenance manager, a teacher or a mechanics, you will most likely need to understand the basics of Microsoft Windows software, like Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Even if your future employer uses a different operating system to Microsoft Windows you will still find what you learn useful. All word processors, spread sheets and presentation programs work on the same principles. Washington’s WorkSource offers over 1,000 online courses for free.

Career Bridge

Career Bridge is the official website for Washington’s Eligible Training Provider list. The website can match the job you are looking for with training programs that suit your goals. The website also provides a list of costs, length of training and the location of a training institution before they decide what career path to take.

Pell Grants for Unemployed Workers.

These Federal grants provide unemployed workers with the chance of studying at a wide selection of approved training providers. If you apply for a student grant as an unemployed worker you could continue receiving your unemployment benefits while you study and even get extension weeks on your benefits while you are in training. However, beware of universities and colleges that are not certified by the State, which may be diploma mills. Below you will find a list of approved learning and training centers in Washington. If you have specific questions about a college or university in Washington you can contact the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, which provides general supervision over the state system of  community and technical colleges.

University of Washington

- University of Washington Bothell

- University of Washington Tacoma

Washington State University

- Washington State University Tri-Cities

- Washington State University Vancouver

• Central Washington University
• Eastern Washington University
• Western Washington University
• The Evergreen State College

Bates Technical College
Bellevue College
Bellingham Technical College
Big Bend Community College
Cascadia Community College
Centralia College
Clark College
Clover Park Technical College
Columbia Basin College
Edmonds Community College
Everett Community College
Grays Harbor College
Green River Community College
Highline Community College
Lake Washington Technical College
Lower Columbia College
North Seattle Community College

Northwest Indian College (A tribal community college)
Olympic College
Peninsula College
Pierce College – Fort Steilacoom
Pierce College – Puyallup
Renton Technical College
Seattle Central Community College
Shoreline Community College
Skagit Valley College
South Puget Sound Community College
South Seattle Community College
Spokane Community College
Spokane Falls Community College
Tacoma Community College
Walla Walla Community College
Wenatchee Valley College
Whatcom Community College
Yakima Valley Community College

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