Best Job & Career in Colorado — 15 resources

About Job & Career for Women

Job and career resources for women run through the 2,400+ American Job Centers (AJCs) nationwide, the Department of Labor's Women's Bureau, and SBA Women's Business Centers. AJCs offer free job search, resume help, and WIOA-funded training (often

0,000+ in tuition for in-demand occupations). WANTO grants fund women entering nontraditional trades like construction, electrical, and HVAC. Registered Apprenticeships pay workers during training, and organizations like Chicago Women in Trades, Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW), and Dress for Success support entry and re-entry. For formerly incarcerated women, programs like the Center for Employment Opportunities provide transitional jobs. This directory includes AJCs, WBCs, apprenticeships, and women-focused workforce programs.

Job & Career in Colorado

Colorado uses 'allocation of parental responsibilities' instead of 'custody' and hears cases in district courts. The Child Support Services division runs enforcement statewide. Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, and Fort Collins anchor the major metros. Colorado Legal Services, Project Safeguard, and the Violence Free Colorado coalition support women across the state.

15 Resources

1. Colorado Workforce Centers — Free

Colorado's 47 Workforce Centers, operated by county and regional consortia, provide free career counseling, WIOA-funded training scholarships, and job placement across the state. Mothers can also access ReHire Colorado wage subsidies and child care vouchers tied to training.

303-318-8000 · Statewide Locations · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

2. Dress for Success — Denver — Free

Dress for Success Denver on Sherman Street suits women for interviews with professional clothing and coaches them through job search strategy. Mothers who land a job can return for a Going Places Network year-long career development program.

720-328-5300 · 1905 Sherman St Suite 250, Denver, CO 80203 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

3. Colorado Small Business Development Center — Free

Colorado SBDC has 14 regional centers led by the Denver office on Broadway, all offering free 1-on-1 business counseling and low-cost workshops. Women entrepreneurs can also access the Colorado Lending Source for microloans and the SBA-funded LEADING WITH WOMEN cohort.

303-892-3840 · 1625 Broadway Suite 1700, Denver, CO 80202 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

4. Goodwill Industries of Denver — Career Services — Free

Goodwill of Colorado, headquartered on Federal Boulevard, operates retail stores that fund free career coaching, GED prep, and job training. The Goodwill Excel Center is a free public charter high school for adults to earn a Colorado diploma.

303-650-7700 · 6850 Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80221 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

5. Bayaud Enterprises — Denver — Free

Bayaud Enterprises on Bayaud Avenue provides supported employment, career navigation, and the Career Closet for women facing barriers including mental illness, disability, and prior incarceration. The Mental Health Reserves cafe also employs program participants.

303-830-6885 · 333 W Bayaud Ave, Denver, CO 80223 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

6. CareerOneStop — Free

CareerOneStop is the DOL's national portal linking Colorado mothers to American Job Centers, occupation outlooks via the Occupational Outlook Handbook, and the My Next Move career interest tool. Useful when choosing a training program with strong wage outcomes.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

7. America's Job Centers — Free

American Job Centers in Colorado are the same offices as Colorado Workforce Centers, branded under the federal AJC network. Mothers can access universal services without an appointment and request enrollment in WIOA-funded training.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

8. DOL Women's Bureau — Free

The DOL Women's Bureau publishes the State Workforce Indicators showing how Colorado women earn, work, and access childcare compared to other states. Useful for advocating for workplace changes and understanding pay equity gaps in Colorado industries.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

9. Dress for Success — Free

Dress for Success Worldwide links Colorado mothers to affiliates in Denver, the Western Slope, and other regions. The national site explains the suiting and Career Development referral process for first-time clients.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. Bottomless Closet — Free

Bottomless Closet provides free interview clothing and career skills workshops nationwide. While its main office is in New York, virtual programming is open to Colorado mothers and complements Dress for Success Denver's local resources.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. Year Up — Free

Year Up Colorado has Denver and Aurora cohorts placing young adults 18-29 into paid corporate internships after six months of intensive training. Many participants are young mothers; on-site case management and stipends make completion feasible.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. Goodwill Career Services — Free

Goodwill of Colorado serves the entire state south of the Denver metro and west to Grand Junction, while Goodwill Industries of Denver covers the metro. The national locator shows which Goodwill operates in your county.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Women Employed — Free

Women Employed advocates for fair scheduling, paid leave, and equitable hiring practices. Colorado mothers benefit from policy work that informed the state's paid family leave (FAMLI) program and Equal Pay for Equal Work Act enforcement.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. SCORE — Free Business Mentors — Free

SCORE has active chapters in Denver, Colorado Springs, Northern Colorado, and the Western Slope. Retired and active executives mentor Colorado women launching businesses for free, often pairing mentees with funders and SBDC counselors.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

15. SBA Office of Women's Business Ownership — Free

The SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership funds Mi Casa Resource Center and the Colorado Women's Chamber as the state's Women's Business Centers. Free counseling and microloan access through these designated WBCs.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many job & career resources are in Colorado?
Women's Corner tracks 15 job & career resources for women in Colorado.
Are job & career resources in Colorado free?
15 of the 15 listed job & career resources in Colorado are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Colorado have job & career resources?
Listings span cities including Denver.
What are some examples of job & career resources in Colorado?
Featured entries include Colorado Workforce Centers, Dress for Success — Denver, Colorado Small Business Development Center, Goodwill Industries of Denver — Career Services, Bayaud Enterprises — Denver.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
5 of 15 Colorado job & career listings include phone numbers.
Where do I get free job training?
Your local American Job Center (find at CareerOneStop.org or call 1-877-872-5627) offers free training, resume help, and job placement through the WIOA program. Goodwill, Dress for Success, and Bottomless Closet provide job-readiness, interview clothing, and coaching. Community colleges run short-term certificate programs (CNA, medical billing, IT) under
,000 that lead to immediate jobs.
Are there programs that hire single mothers?
Yes. Many employers partner with Goodwill, YWCA, and Workforce Boards on second-chance and single-mom hiring tracks — childcare assistance, flexible schedules, and tuition reimbursement included. Look at 'Family Forward NC' style state initiatives, certified Family-Friendly employers, and federal contractors (required to support working parents). Healthcare and logistics are the fastest-growing single-mom-friendly fields.
How do I write a resume after years out of the workforce?
Skip the chronological format — use a functional or hybrid resume that leads with skills (organization, budgeting, time management, problem-solving from caregiving counts). Reframe volunteer work, PTA, and freelance work as professional experience. Free help: American Job Centers, Dress for Success Career Center, LinkedIn's free resume builder, and the SBA Women's Business Centers.
What if I have a criminal record?
You still qualify for most jobs — Ban-the-Box laws in 37 states delay background questions until later in hiring. Federal contractors can't ask about records on the initial application. The Federal Bonding Program insures employers against loss for hiring you. Many states allow expungement of certain records after a waiting period — ask legal aid about clearing your record.