Jobs & Workforce Development

Today's job market has become increasingly more difficult to navigate. As millions of Americans with higher education credentials and skilled trades are struggling keep up the pace with evolving technology and shifts in demanded skills, economically vulnerable populations are feeling more pressure than ever to make ends meet. We believe that one's employment should meet more than their basic needs, rather it should allow them to access a wage that allows them to live a full life, and provide benefits that protect them, and their families, from life's many challenges.

We have spent decades refining jobs and workforce programs that provide the hands-on support that people need to succeed, whether they are living paycheck to paycheck or navigating career changes. Each program meets the needs of different populations with a focus on assessing where they are, and where they want to go. Check out our signature programs below to learn how you can support our work in providing access to a living wage for all, or find the support you need today.

 

Help millions of Americans and develop a rewarding career by finding your next opportunity at the National Urban League.
Learn more today!
 

Careers at NUL

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2025 Empowerment Goal:

Every American has access to jobs with a living wage and good benefits

Workforce Testimonials

National Urban League affiliates across the country provide resources and support that impact everyday people, helping them gain the skills and experience to obtain good jobs with living wages and benefits.  Hear real-life testimonials of some successful participants below. 

How the Work Readiness Training Program
Is Building a Stronger Columbus

 

The Urban Tech Jobs Program Upskills Participants with AI Through a Google Partnership

Explore how the Urban Tech Jobs Program is preparing workers for the AI-driven future through a powerful new partnership with Google. Read more.

Initiatives

National Urban League Emerging Leaders Program

The National Urban League Emerging Leaders Program is a competitive professional development opportunity that provides a unique chance to develop analytical and critical leadership skills for those interested in senior staff roles or strategic governance roles in the non-profit sector.

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The Lewis Latimer Plan

The National Urban League, working with other civil rights organizations and public policy experts, commissioned the Lewis Latimer Plan for Digital Equity and Inclusion, a detailed and comprehensive agenda to reach these four major goals and erase several persistent and dangerous gaps.

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Digital Career Success Series

The Digital Career Success Series are live online events with leading experts providing tips and
resources on topics surrounding career development, job seeking, and professional growth.

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Jobs Network

The Urban League Jobs Network is dedicated to helping you find a job. Create a professional profile on the National Urban League Job Board and browse open positions from top companies nationwide.

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Signature Programs

Urban Construction Jobs Program

The Urban Construction Jobs Program, in partnership with TradesFutures, is committed to fostering a more equitable workforce by providing opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds to succeed in the construction industry.

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Upskilling Workforce Program

The rapidly changing complexion of the American workforce has impacted low-income communities significantly. A 2019 report from McKinsey & Co showed that African Americans were overwhelmingly, disproportionately represented among jobs that were most likely to be displaced. COVID-19’s impact on the workforce, particularly in industries and jobs that overlap with the McKinsey report, expedited that disruption. The workforce ecosystem is underprepared to address this immediate need.

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Young Adult Reentry Partnerships (YARP)

The Young Adult Reentry Partnerships (YARP) Program aims to partner the Urban League affiliates with employers and community colleges to increase access to market-relevant skills and credentials leading to employment in high-growth industries

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Urban Pathways Home 3 Program

The Urban Pathways Home 3 Program provides correctional pre-release and post-release services and workforce development to participants returning home in high-demand areas with civil unrest and extensive gaps in services.

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Growth Opportunities Program

National Urban League's Growth Opportunities Program serves justice system-involved youth and young adults ages 18-24 that live in communities that experience high instances of violent crime. The program features wrap-around social services, including expungement, violence prevention workshops, occupational skills training, and placement into work experiences.

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Urban Energy Jobs Program

Connecting Communities of Color to high paying, sustainable Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) opportunities in the Clean Energy Industry.

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Urban Youth Pathways

Access to livable wage jobs and career opportunities has been one of the cornerstones of the National Urban League movement for over 100 years.  The Urban Youth Pathways program is a DOL-funded program that provides youth/young adults ages 14-21 with career readiness training and exploration.

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Urban Reentry Jobs Program

For many Americans, re-entering the workforce after a period of incarceration can be challenging. This hits communities of color, who are disproportionately represented in the prison system, particularly hard.

The National Urban League, who has served formerly incarcerated adults for more than 50 years, created the Urban Reentry Jobs Program (URJP) to address this inequity.

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Project Empower University

Since our founding, the Urban League affiliate movement has grown from a single chapter in New York to a network serving two million people in 90 cities across the country. Project Empower University gives them the skills to continue serving their communities and expand the movement’s reach.

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Urban Tech Jobs Program

The National Urban League has served African Americans and the long-term unemployed since our founding in 1910. The Urban Tech Jobs Program (UTJP) builds on this history and mission to connect the long-term unemployed to good-paying jobs in the Information Technology (IT) sector.

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Urban Youth Empowerment Program

Far too often, the mistakes young people of color make follow them thorough their life. Criminal records hold them back from gainful employment and create a cycle of challenges that persist if there is no intervention.

The National Urban League is committed to opening doors for young people by helping them complete credentials, career training and guidance through mentorship.

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Urban Seniors Jobs Program

Advances in technology and in changes in the nature of the work have unintentionally made finding employment for older Americans much harder. In response to these trends, the National Urban League established the Urban Senior Jobs Program (USJP), a subsidized service-based training program for low-income persons 55 years old or older who are unemployed and committed to finding employment opportunities.

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Urban Apprenticeship Readiness Program

The Urban Apprenticeship Readiness Program works to increase racial, ethnic, gender and other demographic diversity and inclusion in apprenticeship.

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WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The National Urban League is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to complying with all federal, state and local equal employment opportunity (“EEO”) laws. The National Urban League strictly prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of the individual's race, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion or creed, national origin, alienage, citizenship, age, sexual orientation, disability, gender, identity or expression, sexual and reproductive health decisions or decision making (of employees or their dependants), familial status, marital status, partnership status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, veterans status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre- employment criminal conviction record, or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy applies to all National Urban League activities, including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, compensation, assignment, training, promotion, discipline and discharge. This policy also bans discriminatory harassment. Employment at the National Urban League is at will.

EEO Policy