How many job & career resources are in Iowa?

Women's Corner tracks 17 job & career resources for women in Iowa.

Are job & career resources in Iowa free?

17 of the 17 listed job & career resources in Iowa are explicitly free or low-cost.

Which cities in Iowa have job & career resources?

Listings span cities including Des Moines, Cedar Rapids.

What are some examples of job & career resources in Iowa?

Featured entries include Iowa Workforce Development — IowaWORKS Centers, IowaWORKS — State Job Board, Iowa Women's Business Center, Goodwill of Central Iowa — Career Services, Iowa Small Business Development Centers.

Do these listings include phone numbers?

7 of 17 Iowa 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 $1,000 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.

Best Job & Career in Iowa — 17 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 Iowa

Iowa district courts hear family cases in all 99 counties, with the Child Support Recovery Unit under the Department of Human Services managing enforcement. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Sioux City are the largest metros. Iowa Legal Aid and the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence support women, with self-represented litigant coordinators in every county.

17 Resources

1. Iowa Workforce Development — IowaWORKS Centers — Free

IWD operates 15 IowaWORKS American Job Centers statewide offering free career counseling, resume help, skills assessments, and access to training grants under WIOA. The central office at 515-281-5387 can direct a woman to her regional IowaWORKS location and confirm whether she qualifies for Re-Employment Services after a job loss.

515-281-5387 · Statewide Locations · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website

2. IowaWORKS — State Job Board — Free

The state's IowaWORKS job board indexes more than 60,000 active openings statewide from employers required to post state-funded apprenticeships and many others. Job seekers can build a resume in the platform that employers can search, with auto-match alerts based on skill profile.

515-281-5387 · Online Service · Online 24/7 · Visit Website

3. Iowa Women's Business Center — Free

The Iowa WBC offers free one-on-one business counseling, peer cohorts, and access to the SBA microloan program for women starting or scaling small businesses. New entrepreneurs can also enroll in the eight-week WBC Foundations course covering pricing, legal structure, and basic financial statements. Schedule via 515-244-7246.

515-244-7246 · Des Moines, IA · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

4. Goodwill of Central Iowa — Career Services — Free

Goodwill of Central Iowa at 4900 NE 22nd Street in Des Moines runs free career services, computer labs, and the Mission Pathways program providing paid on-the-job training in retail, food service, and warehousing. Many participants transition into Goodwill employment or partner-employer placements. Call 515-265-5323.

515-265-5323 · 4900 NE 22nd St, Des Moines, IA 50313 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

5. Iowa Small Business Development Centers — Free

Iowa SBDC operates 15 regional centers hosted at universities and community colleges across the state, offering free confidential business counseling to women entrepreneurs in any stage from concept through expansion. Counselors specialize in financial projections, market research, and SBA lender relationships. Statewide line 515-294-2037.

515-294-2037 · Statewide Locations · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

6. Urban Dreams — Des Moines — Free

Urban Dreams at 1410 6th Avenue in Des Moines serves Black, Latino, and immigrant communities with workforce readiness, youth mentoring, and reentry support. The Career Building Pathways program targets formerly incarcerated women with paid training, soft skills coaching, and employer connections. Call 515-288-9277.

515-288-9277 · 1410 6th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50314 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

7. Iowa Women Lead Change — Career Programs — Free

Iowa Women Lead Change, based in Cedar Rapids, develops women into senior leadership through six- and twelve-month cohort programs combining workshops, mentoring, and 360 assessments. Tuition is paid by participants' employers in most cases. Program inquiries run through 319-363-2388.

319-363-2388 · Cedar Rapids, IA · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

8. CareerOneStop — Free

CareerOneStop is the Department of Labor's flagship career portal aggregating skills assessments, occupation outlooks, and local training program directories. Iowa users can search for in-demand careers by region and find related WIOA-funded training providers with completion-rate data.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

9. America's Job Centers — Free

American Job Centers — IowaWORKS in this state — provide federally funded workforce services free of charge. The national locator at careeronestop.org/AmericanJobCenters returns the nearest AJC by ZIP, useful for women near state borders who may find Iowa or a neighboring state's center more accessible.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. DOL Women's Bureau — Free

The Women's Bureau within the US Department of Labor publishes employment data on women, runs grant programs targeting women in apprenticeship and nontraditional careers, and operates the WORK initiative connecting employers committed to caregiving-supportive workplaces. Iowa is a participating state with active grantees.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. Dress for Success — Free

Dress for Success operates 140+ affiliates worldwide including Des Moines, providing job-ready interview suits and Professional Women's Group programming to clients referred by workforce agencies. The national site explains the referral process and lists each affiliate's intake hours.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. Bottomless Closet — Free

Bottomless Closet originated in New York and now has affiliates in several cities providing professional wardrobe, mock interview prep, and workshops on workplace etiquette for women returning to or entering the workforce. While there is no Iowa affiliate, online resources are accessible to anyone.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Year Up — Free

Year Up's year-long workforce training program for adults 18-29 combines six months of skills training with a six-month corporate internship, with stipends throughout. Iowa students participate through online cohorts as Year Up does not have a brick-and-mortar campus in the state.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. Goodwill Career Services — Free

Goodwill operates more than 150 regional networks in the US including three Iowa Goodwills — Central Iowa, Heartland, and Northeast Iowa — providing free career services, vocational rehabilitation, and computer access. The national locator finds the nearest center and lists current training programs.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

15. Women Employed — Free

Women Employed is a Chicago-based national advocacy and direct-services organization that helps women navigate community college, financial aid, and career advancement, with policy work in Illinois and other Midwestern states. Their tools on stackable credentials and credit-for-prior-learning are accessible to Iowa women online.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

16. SCORE — Free Business Mentors — Free

SCORE pairs aspiring and current business owners with free, vetted volunteer mentors — most retired executives in their field — for unlimited mentoring sessions. Iowa has active SCORE chapters in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Quad Cities. Sessions take place by video or in person at SBA partner offices.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

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

OWBO funds the Women's Business Center network including the Iowa WBC and administers the federal Women-Owned Small Business certification needed to compete for set-aside federal contracts. The office publishes guidance on accessing capital and government procurement specifically for women-owned firms.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many job & career resources are in Iowa?: Women's Corner tracks 17 job & career resources for women in Iowa.
Are job & career resources in Iowa free?: 17 of the 17 listed job & career resources in Iowa are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Iowa have job & career resources?: Listings span cities including Des Moines, Cedar Rapids.
What are some examples of job & career resources in Iowa?: Featured entries include Iowa Workforce Development — IowaWORKS Centers, IowaWORKS — State Job Board, Iowa Women's Business Center, Goodwill of Central Iowa — Career Services, Iowa Small Business Development Centers.
Do these listings include phone numbers?: 7 of 17 Iowa 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.