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Training & Careers

Free Job Training and Job Search Help in St. Louis

Now Hiring St. Louis Editorial TeamUpdated 2026-09-298 min read

Last verified: September 29, 2026. Addresses, hours and funding rules change. Call before you go.

If you are between jobs, or working a job that pays too little, the good news is that St. Louis has a lot of free help for job seekers. The less good news is that it is spread across a dozen agencies, each with its own sign-up process, and most people never hear about half of it. This guide covers the main options we could verify, who each one is for, and what to do first.

Start here: your Missouri Job Center

Missouri Job Centers are the state's public workforce offices. They are free, and they are the front door for most publicly funded training. Per the state's job center directory, these are the ones in the St. Louis area:

  • St. Louis City (SLATE Job Center): 1520 Market Street, Room 3050, St. Louis, MO 63103. Phone 314-589-8000. Listed hours: Monday and Tuesday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • St. Louis County, Ferguson: 2900 Pershall Rd, Suite 166, St. Louis, MO 63136. Phone 314-475-7900. Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • St. Louis County, Met Center: 6347 Plymouth Ave, Room 206, St. Louis, MO 63133. Phone 314-377-0445.
  • St. Charles County: 3757 Harry S. Truman Blvd, St. Charles, MO 63301. Phone 636-255-6060.
  • Jefferson County (Arnold): 3675 West Outer Road, Suite 102, Arnold, MO 63010. Phone 636-865-6060.
  • Franklin County (Washington): 1108 Washington Square Shopping Center, Washington, MO 63090. Phone 636-583-9670.

One caution: the City's own SLATE page lists a different downtown street address than the state directory, so phone ahead to confirm where to go. The statewide toll-free line is 888-728-5627 (888-728-JOBS).

According to the county center's page, services include job matching, resume writing help and career counseling, plus workshops on interviewing, computer skills and high school equivalency. Resource rooms typically offer computers, internet, printers and phones, which matters if you do not have those at home.

How to sign up: Register on JobsMoGov, the state's free job system, then visit or call your nearest center. STLCC's funding page also names creating an account on the Missouri Job Center website as the first step for the federally funded training program described below.

SLATE: the City of St. Louis training agency

The St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) runs the city's Missouri Career Center and administers federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) money. That money is the biggest source of free training in the region.

According to SLATE's training page, St. Louis City residents may be eligible for financial assistance of up to $10,000 to help cover tuition, books, supplies and more for approved occupational training. To be considered you generally need to be:

  • A St. Louis City resident, 18 or older, and registered for Selective Service if required
  • Authorized to work in the U.S.
  • Unemployed or have received a layoff or termination notice, or be employed but meet low-income criteria

SLATE's training page said WIOA orientations were temporarily closed for August and September (as of September 29, 2026), so call ahead about when they resume. The money goes to programs on an approved list tied to fields with hiring demand, so it will not pay for just any course. SLATE also lists youth programs (summer youth employment for ages 16 to 24, an out-of-school youth program for ages 17 to 24, YouthBuild for ages 17 to 24), apprenticeships and SkillUP, a free training program for SNAP participants. It runs job search workshops on resumes, interviews and hiring tests too.

How to sign up: Use the "Get Started Now" form on the SLATE site (name, email, phone and a note about what help you need). The form itself says submitting it is not an automatic enrollment in WIOA. A staff member contacts you and you go through an eligibility process. Expect to bring proof of identity and work authorization, and be ready to explain your work history.

If you live in the county rather than the city, ask the Ferguson or Met Center job center what your eligibility looks like. Rules and funding are administered by area and can differ.

St. Louis Community College workforce programs

STLCC's Workforce Solutions Group runs short-term career training in fields like health care, manufacturing, information technology, transportation and trades. Programs are usually shorter than a semester, and many are low cost or free for people who qualify. Contact: acceleratedjobtraining@stlcc.edu or 314-984-7777.

From STLCC's funding page:

  • WIOA tuition assistance for approved programs in fields where employers are hiring, with income or dislocated-worker qualification, plus career counseling and placement support. Priority goes to veterans, low-income people and those with barriers to employment. You apply by making an account at the Missouri Job Center site.
  • PepsiCo Uplift Scholarship for underrepresented or underserved STLCC students pursuing certificates in areas including advanced manufacturing, IT, and transportation and logistics. It covers tuition and fees and adds textbook and supply stipends. Apply through STLCC's scholarship site.
  • Employer-funded programs. STLCC's medical assistant program, for example, is tuition-free but requires a two-year work commitment to the partner employer. See our healthcare entry jobs guide for that trade-off.

STLCC also runs a truck driver training program, with prices and requirements covered in our Missouri CDL guide. Those programs list "funding may be available for those who qualify," so ask the job center about WIOA before paying.

Fast Track: state grant for adult students

The Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant helps adults pay for a certificate, degree or industry credential in a high-demand field. Per the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, you must:

  • Be 25 or older, or not have been enrolled in school for two years
  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and a Missouri resident for at least two years
  • Have no bachelor's degree
  • Have federal adjusted gross income of $40,000 or less, or $80,000 or less if married filing jointly
  • Be enrolled at least half-time in a designated program (or in a Department of Labor-approved apprenticeship)

For public institutions, the grant covers tuition and fees, and if other aid covers those it can pay up to $500 for books and supplies. Apply through the State Financial Aid Portal, choose the academic year, click Apply in the Fast Track row and upload a recent Missouri tax return. You may also need a FAFSA, so ask your school. The amounts we cite are for 2025 to 2026, so check the current year.

The A+ Scholarship is a related Missouri program, but it is for students who attend qualifying high schools and it has its own requirements, so we do not cover it here. Ask a school counselor if it applies to you or a family member.

Free help at the library

You do not need to be a student to use these, but you do need a library card.

  • St. Louis County Library offers one-on-one help with resumes and job searching from librarians and trainers by Zoom, phone, email or in person at any branch. Brainfuse JobNow gives you live career coaches. The library also provides LinkedIn Learning courses, and practice tests for civil service and other exams. Call 314-994-3300 or use its Request Help form.
  • St. Louis Public Library offers Brainfuse JobNow with resume and cover letter help and interview coaching (live coaching is available every day from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., according to the library), LinkedIn Learning, instructor-led Gale Courses that start monthly, and test prep for the GED, ACT, SAT and civil service exams.

Library computers and printers are also a low-stakes place to fill out applications.

Nonprofits

Employment Connection works with job seekers in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and, on the Illinois side, St. Clair County. Its career services and World of Work classes (which prepare you for interviewing) are free, and a career specialist helps with job leads and placement afterward. It also lists a free solar and green workforce training program (join the waitlist through its request for services form), Ticket to Work for adults 18 to 64 receiving SSI or SSDI, and an Illinois SNAP and TANF employment and training program. Sign up through the request for services link on its site, or dial 211 for referrals.

Community Action Agency of St. Louis County (314-863-0015) is named on STLCC's funding page as an additional support source. Ask what employment or training help it currently offers, because we did not verify specifics.

Goodwill and other nonprofits also run employment programs in the metro. We did not verify current St. Louis-area program details, so check each organization directly.

A simple plan for your first week

  1. Create your free JobsMoGov account.
  2. Call the job center nearest you and ask three questions: What training am I eligible for? What is the approved program list? What do I need to bring?
  3. Submit the SLATE form if you live in the city.
  4. Book a library resume session to get your application materials ready while eligibility is reviewed.
  5. Ask any school before paying: Is this program on the approved list? Is Fast Track or WIOA money available? Is there a work commitment?

Mistakes to avoid

  • Paying tuition first and asking about funding later. Grants and WIOA usually need approval before you enroll.
  • Skipping paperwork. Bring ID, proof of work authorization and proof of address. Missing documents slow things down more than anything else.
  • Picking a program only because it is free. Check pay and local demand. Our warehouse and logistics guide has local wage data for one common option.
  • Ignoring commitments. Employer-funded training can require you to stay two years.

Frequently asked questions

Is any of this really free? Job center services, SLATE workshops, library help and Employment Connection classes are free. Training tuition may be fully or partly covered if you qualify, but eligibility and approved programs limit it.

I live in the county, not the city. Where do I go? Start at the Ferguson or Met Center Missouri Job Center, or the St. Charles, Jefferson or Franklin County center if you live there.

Can I get help if I am working? Possibly. SLATE lists low-income employed people as eligible, and Fast Track allows income up to $40,000 for a single filer.

I live in Illinois. Any help there? Employment Connection serves St. Clair County. For public programs on the Illinois side, contact your local Illinois workNet center, which we did not verify here.

This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Eligibility and funding are set by the agencies named, so confirm current rules with them.

Sources

Want new openings and training news in your inbox? Join the free Now Hiring In St. Louis Facebook group or get free job alerts. We cannot promise anyone a job or funding, so confirm eligibility with each agency.