Best Job & Career in Rhode Island — 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 Rhode Island

Rhode Island Family Court is a statewide system handling all divorce, custody, paternity, and child support cases. The Office of Child Support Services operates under DHS. Providence, Warwick, Cranston, and Pawtucket are the largest cities. Rhode Island Legal Services and the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence provide statewide civil legal aid and safety services to women.

15 Resources

1. RI Department of Labor and Training (DLT) — Free

DLT at 1511 Pontiac Avenue in Cranston administers unemployment insurance, temporary disability insurance (TDI — unique to RI), and paid family leave. Mothers returning from leave can apply for TDI benefits during pregnancy and postpartum. Phone 401-462-8000 Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm. Online claims at dlt.ri.gov.

401-462-8000 · 1511 Pontiac Ave, Cranston, RI 02920 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm · Visit Website

2. netWORKri — Career Centers — Free

netWORKri career centers (the main location at 1511 Pontiac Avenue, plus West Warwick, Providence, Woonsocket, and Wakefield) offer free career counseling, resume help, computer access, and workshops. Walk in or schedule via 401-462-8000 Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm. WIOA training funds available for eligible women.

401-462-8000 · 1511 Pontiac Ave, Cranston, RI 02920 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm · Visit Website

3. Center for Women and Enterprise — Career Training — Free

CWE at 132 George M Cohan Boulevard in Providence is RI's Women's Business Center, providing business plan workshops, microloan packaging, and one-on-one advising for women entrepreneurs. They also coach women re-entering the workforce. Phone 401-277-0800 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Most workshops free.

401-277-0800 · 132 George M Cohan Blvd, Providence, RI 02903 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

4. Amos House — Workforce Development — Free

Amos House at 460 Pine Street in south Providence runs the Community Kitchen culinary training program — a paid 14-week course for women rebuilding employment after homelessness, incarceration, or recovery. Graduates earn ServSafe certification and job placement. Phone 401-272-0220 Mon-Fri 8am-4pm.

401-272-0220 · 460 Pine St, Providence, RI 02907 · Mon-Fri 8am-4pm · Visit Website

5. Year Up Providence — Free

Year Up Providence (linked to YearUp.org's national network) runs a one-year program combining six months of professional skill-building with a paid corporate internship for young adults 18-29. Strong representation of women in IT and finance tracks. Phone 401-432-1590 Mon-Fri 8am-5pm. Free for accepted students plus a stipend.

401-432-1590 · Providence, RI 02903 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

6. Goodwill Industries of Southern New England — RI — Free

Goodwill SNE at 100 Houghton Street in Providence offers free job training, supported employment for women with disabilities, and digital-skills classes through grant-funded programs. They also run a network of stores that hire community members. Phone 401-861-2080 Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm.

401-861-2080 · 100 Houghton St, Providence, RI 02904 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website

7. CareerOneStop — Free

CareerOneStop.org is the US Department of Labor's career portal: a national job bank, training-program search, salary data, and the locator for American Job Centers including RI's netWORKri sites. Free, no account needed for most tools.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

8. America's Job Centers — Free

CareerOneStop's American Job Center locator lists 2,400+ AJCs nationwide including netWORKri sites in Rhode Island. Each AJC offers free career counseling, workshops, and WIOA-funded training scholarships. Useful when relocating or seeking in-person help.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

9. DOL Women's Bureau — Free

The DOL Women's Bureau at dol.gov/agencies/wb publishes data on women's earnings, workplace protections, and policy briefs on paid leave and pay equity — useful for mothers negotiating wages or filing wage-discrimination complaints. Free public resources.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. Dress for Success — Free

DressForSuccess.org's national site lists the Providence affiliate and others nationwide. The Career Center programs go far beyond clothing — interview prep, salary negotiation, Professional Women's Group ongoing community. Free for referred women.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. Bottomless Closet — Free

Bottomless Closet at bottomlesscloset.org provides interview-appropriate clothing plus mentorship to economically disadvantaged women in major metro areas; RI mothers commuting to Boston may qualify. Free for referred clients.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. Goodwill Career Services — Free

Goodwill.org's career service locator finds Goodwill Industries of Southern New England (which serves RI) and other affiliates. Free job training and placement in retail, healthcare, and digital skills. Especially supportive for women with employment barriers.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Women Employed — Free

Women Employed at womenemployed.org advocates for working women through policy, free career navigation tools, and the Working Mother Initiative. Their research on the wage gap and care infrastructure informs federal and state policy. Free resources.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. SCORE — Free Business Mentors — Free

SCORE at score.org is the SBA-funded mentor network of volunteer (mostly retired) business professionals offering free 1-on-1 mentorship to women entrepreneurs. RI chapters in Providence and Newport. Sign up online for a virtual or in-person mentor match. Free.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

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

SBA's OWBO at sba.gov funds Women's Business Centers (CWE in Providence), the WOSB federal contracting program, and InnovateHER programs. Useful for women planning to start a business or compete for government contracts. Free resources.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many job & career resources are in Rhode Island?
Women's Corner tracks 15 job & career resources for women in Rhode Island.
Are job & career resources in Rhode Island free?
15 of the 15 listed job & career resources in Rhode Island are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Rhode Island have job & career resources?
Listings span cities including Cranston, Providence.
What are some examples of job & career resources in Rhode Island?
Featured entries include RI Department of Labor and Training (DLT), netWORKri — Career Centers, Center for Women and Enterprise — Career Training, Amos House — Workforce Development, Year Up Providence.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
6 of 15 Rhode Island 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.