Barriers to Employment
Do you have a physical condition or personal situation that makes it difficult to find or keep a job?
Support is available for every job seeker, no matter the situation. Below is a list of common barriers to employment.
Common Barriers to Employment
- Age
- Criminal record
- Disabilities
- Disadvantaged background
- Domestic violence
- Drug and/or alcohol abuse
- Education
- Employer biases
- Has a child with special needs
- Homelessness
- Job search skills
- Lacks basic and soft skills
- Limited English proficiency
- Long-term welfare recipient
- Mental illness
- Need training
- Needs child care assistance
- No high school diploma
- No transportation
- Work history
Some job seekers have more than one barrier to employment. This makes finding or keeping a job more difficult, but not impossible. You might need to connect with more than one resource to help with each barrier. Remember that some barriers, such as lack of transportation, are temporary and easier to address than other barriers. Work with an employment advisor to find out about all of the resources and support available to you.
Overcoming Barriers
In order to be successful in your job hunt, you need to be the type of employee that employers are looking for. This is true for every job seeker, not just those with barriers. Employers want people with the right skills to do the work, a personality that fits the company culture, and a good work ethic.
All job seekers should focus on their qualifications and positive traits, not on their barriers. If an employer asks about your barrier in a job interview, be prepared to talk about how it will not affect your ability to be a good employee.
Steps to talking about barriers with employers:
- Identify the barrier. Sometimes the employer doesn't understand what the barrier is or how it does and does not affect your ability to work.
- Get some perspective on the barrier. Only talk about how the barrier might affect your ability to do your job or interact with people. If the barrier does not affect your job, then make sure the employer knows this.
- Come up with workable solutions and goals. Be proactive and give the employer suggestions as to how you can minimize your barrier or find ways for it to not affect your job. Talk with an employment advisor to get suggestions.
Do you know the resources available to help and how to find them? Job counselors, WorkForce Centers, and case workers can serve as coaches and offer guidance for people that have barriers to employment. They can help you find out if you can get help for your particular situation, such as housing, child care, transportation, subsidies/financial aid, counseling, education, transitional work, placement assistance, disability issues, health care, and treatment programs.
An employment adviser can also provide a well-coordinated, overall support system to help you find training, counseling, basic needs assistance, help to find a job, and with continued support in the workplace and at home.
If you have barriers to employment, you can help yourself too.
- Have a positive attitude about getting help and finding work.
- Don't be afraid, ashamed, or embarrassed to ask for help.
- Seek out counseling, transitional, and assistance services, if you need them, to find employment and be successful in the workforce. Start with this list of employment training programs.
- Participate in drug, alcohol, and mental health rehab services, if necessary.
- Find affordable training and ways to help pay for training.
- Community services offer much assistance with basic needs and often provide English as a second language tutors.
- Look into available support services, like child care and transportation.
- Seek out resources to help you if you are an ex-offender or have a poor work history.
