DC Department of Employment Services Provides Fair Shot at Success for District Employers

This content is presented by Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes, Director, DC Department of Employment Services

As Washington, D.C. continues its economic recovery from the pandemic, the Department of Employment Services (DOES) remains committed to partnering with District employers to meet workforce needs. DOES has programs to assist at every step of the hiring and training process.

District employers looking to hire qualified, motivated staff can use DCNetworks, the District’s virtual job board. DCNetworks also provides valuable workforce data including employment and wage data, labor market information, and the number of current openings for specific jobs. This data can make your hiring process easier by ensuring your wages and benefits are competitive. DCNetworks also allows you to post jobs and screen applicants through an easy-to-use platform.

The Office of Talent and Client Services (TCS), housed within DOES, also hosts virtual job fairs, including Fast Track Fridays and Talent Tuesdays. The goal of these events is to connect employers with highly qualified, motivated candidates. TCS helps make the interview and onboarding process easy for all involved.

Training new hires can be time consuming and expensive for some employers. That’s why DOES has implemented programs to make the process easier. Becoming a registered apprenticeship sponsor allows employers to create a skilled talent pipeline for traditional careers including building and trades, as well as non-traditional apprenticeships in information technologies (IT), hospitality, and public safety.

The District’s On-The-Job Training (OJT) program reimburses certain employers between 50-75% of an eligible new hire’s wages while training. This provides motivated candidates with the opportunity to learn career essential skills and helps employers offset costs associated with training.

DOES offers these and many other services to ensure DC businesses have a fair shot at success. For the District’s economic recovery to continue, we must make it easy for employers to find the motived, talented workforce they need. To learn more about how DOES can help business move forward in the District, visit does.dc.gov.