Best Job & Career in Nebraska — 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 Nebraska

Nebraska district courts hear family matters in each of its 93 counties, with many counties using county court for paternity and child support. The Child Support Enforcement division operates under DHHS. Omaha and Lincoln dominate the state's population. Legal Aid of Nebraska and the Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence provide statewide civil legal aid and safety services to women.

15 Resources

1. Nebraska Workforce Centers (American Job Centers) — Free

Nebraska's Workforce Centers — branded American Job Centers under the federal WIOA system — operate in 12 cities with computers, resume help, and on-site career planners. Mothers needing job-search help, training scholarships under the Customized Job Training program, or unemployment-insurance support can call 402-471-9000.

402-471-9000 · Multiple locations statewide · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

2. Goodwill Industries — Omaha — Free

Goodwill Omaha on North 72nd runs free YouthBuild, Veterans Career Services, and Adult Career Services programs — paid training in retail, IT support, and CDL trucking with case management. Call 402-341-4609 to schedule an intake; donations and store revenue underwrite the free training.

402-341-4609 · 4805 N 72nd St, Omaha, NE 68134 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

3. Nebraska Enterprise Fund — Women's Business — Free

NEF, in addition to lending, runs business-readiness training for women entrepreneurs — bookkeeping, marketing, and tax basics — that doubles as preparation for loan applications. Mothers planning a side business or microenterprise should call 402-595-0504 to schedule a no-cost coaching session before applying for credit.

402-595-0504 · Omaha, NE · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

4. Heartland Workforce Solutions — Omaha — Free

Heartland Workforce Solutions is the Workforce Innovation Board for Douglas, Sarpy, and Washington counties; its Ames Avenue center delivers WIOA Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth services. Mothers laid off or seeking certification scholarships should call 402-444-4700 for an eligibility interview.

402-444-4700 · 5752 Ames Ave, Omaha, NE 68104 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm

5. SBA Nebraska District Office — Free

The SBA Nebraska District Office in Omaha (402-221-4691) is the federal hub for SBA-backed loans (7(a), 504, microloans), the SBDC network, and contracting certifications including the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) program. Office hours are weekdays 8-5; most counseling is delivered through partner SBDCs.

402-221-4691 · Omaha, NE · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

6. CareerOneStop — Free

CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. DOL, hosts the most comprehensive American Job Center locator, occupation-by-occupation salary data, certification finder, and the My Next Move career-interest test. Useful for mothers exploring careers before committing to training.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

7. America's Job Centers — Free

The American Job Center network has 2,400+ physical locations nationwide where WIOA services are delivered — Nebraska has 12. Walking into the nearest AJC is the fastest way for unemployed mothers to learn what state and federal training scholarships they qualify for.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

8. DOL Women's Bureau — Free

The DOL Women's Bureau is the only federal agency mandated to represent the needs of working women. The site publishes research on the gender pay gap, paid leave, and women in apprenticeships — useful when mothers are advocating in their own workplaces or testifying on state policy.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

9. Dress for Success — Free

Dress for Success's national site explains how to find a local affiliate (Omaha is the Nebraska option) and what to expect from a suiting appointment, the Career Center, and the Professional Women's Group that supports clients post-employment. Suiting requires a partner-agency referral.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. Bottomless Closet — Free

Bottomless Closet operates in selected major US cities (not yet Nebraska) but maintains national workforce resources, partner directories, and remote workshops women anywhere can access. Useful as a model for what professional-clothing nonprofits provide when mothers are looking for an Omaha-area equivalent.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. Year Up — Free

Year Up's one-year program combines six months of skills training with a six-month internship at corporate sponsors — graduates earn an average $44,000 starting salary. The closest Year Up site to Nebraska is currently online (Year Up Professional Training Corps); applications open quarterly.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. Goodwill Career Services — Free

Goodwill.org's career-services page links to every local Goodwill, including Omaha's free training programs. Mothers can also use the site's online learning platform for self-paced courses in customer service, Microsoft Office, and forklift safety — credentials that count on a resume.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Women Employed — Free

Women Employed, based in Chicago, fights for policies that improve working women's economic mobility — paid leave, predictable scheduling, and college-completion supports. Their research reports give mothers concrete data when negotiating raises, navigating a misclassification issue, or advocating in their state.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. SCORE — Free Business Mentors — Free

SCORE — Service Corps of Retired Executives — pairs aspiring entrepreneurs with free volunteer mentors. The Omaha chapter and Lincoln satellite host monthly workshops on business plans, QuickBooks, and SBA loan readiness. Sign up online to be matched within a week.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

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

The SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership funds Nebraska's Women's Business Center and certifies the WOSB and EDWOSB designations that open federal contracting opportunities. Mothers preparing to bid on government work should start here to understand the certification process.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many job & career resources are in Nebraska?
Women's Corner tracks 15 job & career resources for women in Nebraska.
Are job & career resources in Nebraska free?
15 of the 15 listed job & career resources in Nebraska are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Nebraska have job & career resources?
Listings span cities including Omaha.
What are some examples of job & career resources in Nebraska?
Featured entries include Nebraska Workforce Centers (American Job Centers), Goodwill Industries — Omaha, Nebraska Enterprise Fund — Women's Business, Heartland Workforce Solutions — Omaha, SBA Nebraska District Office.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
5 of 15 Nebraska 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.