Empowering Your Career Journey

Job Center Services

Unlock your potential with our comprehensive job center services, designed to guide you towards a fulfilling career.

Our Mission to Empower Job Seekers

The Central Workforce Development Region is dedicated to strengthening communities through workforce development efforts. Our mission is to assist job seekers in finding the right career path by providing free services that include skills assessments, job training, and career counseling. With locations across 19 counties in mid-Missouri, we are committed to enhancing the regional economy by connecting individuals with meaningful employment opportunities.

Comprehensive Job Seeker Services

Job Search Assistance

Our experts provide personalized guidance and resources to help you identify and pursue job opportunities that align with your skills and career aspirations.

Computers/Resource Center

Our Computers/Resource Center provides job seekers with free access to computers, internet, and essential tools for job searching, resume building, and career development.

UI Assistance

UI Assistance helps individuals navigate the unemployment insurance (UI) process by providing guidance on eligibility, applications, and claim management.

Career Exploration

Discover career paths that align with your skills, interests, and goals.

Resume Crafting Support

Receive professional assistance to create a standout resume that effectively highlights your strengths and experiences to potential employers.

Interview Preparation

Gain confidence for your interviews with our mock sessions and tailored feedback, ensuring you make a lasting impression on employers.

Workshops

Our workshops provide hands-on learning opportunities to help individuals build essential career and job-readiness skills. Covering topics like resume writing, interview techniques, financial literacy, and professional development, these sessions equip participants with the tools needed for success in today’s workforce.

Skills Assessments

Talify Missouri

Talify Missouri is an innovative assessment tool that evaluates your skills and interests, helping you align with potential career opportunities that suit your profile.

ACT WorkKeys

ACT WorkKeys provides a comprehensive evaluation of your workplace skills, ensuring you are matched with employers seeking your unique talents.

Career Matching

Our assessments facilitate a personalized career matching process, guiding you towards roles that fit your skills and aspirations.

Veterans' Career & Employment Services

Job Placement Support

Our dedicated team assists veterans in finding suitable civilian employment, offering job placement services tailored to their skills and experiences.

Training Programs

We provide specialized training programs to help veterans transition smoothly into civilian careers, enhancing their employability and career prospects.

Career Counseling

Receive personalized career counseling to navigate the transition from military to civilian life, ensuring a successful career path.

Take the Next Step in Your Career Journey

Ready to advance your career? Visit one of our Job Centers today to explore a wide range of services designed to help you succeed. Whether you’re looking to refine your resume, prepare for interviews, or find job opportunities that align with your skills, our dedicated team is here to support you every step of the way. Discover how our resources can empower your job search and lead you to a fulfilling career.

Central Region News

A Move, a Job Search, and a New Chapter in Social Work for Antoinette Agosto

After a resume review at the Columbia Job Center, Antoinette Agosto used JVSG services to land a full-time social worker role with Good Shepherd Hospice in under a month.

A Janitorial Job Was All Jillian Knew. A Preschool Classroom Showed Her What She Wanted

high school senior with only janitorial work behind her, Jillian Boyles used the WIOA In-School Youth program to test a career in childcare, and turned a paid Work Experience at Tiger Tots into a real job.

A GED Wasn’t in Her Past. A Classroom Full of Kids Is Now Her Future. (Hannah’s Success Story)

Ashley built a career as a Certified Medical Assistant, then decided to go further. With support from WIOA Adult, EDA, and Healthy Blue, she earned her nursing degree and RN license, and now earns nearly $12 more per hour.

Missouri Education Agencies Partner with Google to Provide Free AI Training

Missouri is partnering with Google to expand free access to AI training, Google Career Certificates and education tools for job seekers, students and educators across the state.

A Move, a Job Search, and a New Chapter in Social Work for Antoinette Agosto

When veteran Eddie Agosto walked into the Columbia Job Center looking for direction, he found more than a resume review. Through the Jobs for Veterans State Grant program, he landed a role that puts his social work background to meaningful use.

Missouri Jobs Report: July 2026 — Nearly 30,000 Jobs Added Year-Over-Year as Unemployment Falls to 3.6%

Missouri added 8,100 jobs in July 2026, unemployment fell to 3.6 percent, and year-over-year job growth reached nearly 30,000 positions. Here’s a breakdown of the latest labor market data and what it means for workers and employers across mid-Missouri.

What Students Can Teach Us About Showing Up

Every August, students walk into buildings they have never been in before and agree to spend months learning things they do not yet understand. What if the rest of us did the same? Here is what students can teach us about showing up.

A Certified Medical Assistant, Ashley Wanted More. Nursing School Delivered It

Ashley built a career as a Certified Medical Assistant, then decided to go further. With support from WIOA Adult, EDA, and Healthy Blue, she earned her nursing degree and RN license, and now earns nearly $12 more per hour.

Keeoctea Hightower Wanted a Fresh Start. The Central Region Job Center Helped Her Find One

Veteran Keeoctea Hightower came to the Columbia Job Center for resume help and career guidance. With support from Wagner-Peyser and JVSG services, she landed full-time employment at a VA hospital.

Central Region Joins Local Partners At Lebanon Summer Outreach Event

Free community resources came together at the Lebanon YMCA this summer, with the Central Workforce Development Region on hand to connect attendees with job seeker services.

Tune into the podcast

The Workforce Link Podcast with Sundi Jo Graham

The Workforce Link Podcast offers forward thinking conversations for the workforce, linking employers and job seekers to a brighter tomorrow. 

Hosted by Sundi Jo Graham from the Central Workforce Development Board, The Workforce Link covers job searching, resume and interview tips, leadership, personal development, and features interviews with industry leaders from the private and public sectors.

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