The U.S. labor market has shifted in recent years, but worker shortages remain a challenge across most of the country. Although the number of available workers now exceeds the number of open jobs nationally, only 10 states currently have a worker surplus, and employers in many industries continue to struggle to find candidates with the right skills. Declining labor force participation, an aging workforce and rapid technological change continue to reshape the employment landscape, making reskilling and upskilling more important than ever.
Public libraries play a crucial role in supporting workforce development by offering free job and career services. These may include upskilling programs, résumé development, computer access, interview preparation, workshops and seminars. Libraries looking to expand these offerings and better support today's job seekers and career changers should consider the following five strategies:
1. Exploring New Career Options and Entrepreneurship
The economic turmoil created by COVID-19 led some workers to reassess their careers. Using resources such as Job & Career Accelerator, patrons can research growth industries, take skills and interests assessments to find ideal career paths, and explore more than 1,000 occupations ― including civilian jobs for those transitioning out of the military. They can also conduct real-time searches in a database of more than five million job postings.
Some patrons might consider pursuing a skilled trade given today’s skilled trade workforce shortage. BlueCareer from EBSCOlearning is a workforce development platform that serves as a one-stop show for patrons to explore skilled trade industries, start their careers, connect with employers and more. Users can take personality and experience assessments to see which trade profession might be a good fit. They can also access up-to-date pay and career growth data and explore trade schools.
Others might be interested in making the switch to a career in health care. The Health Resources and Services Administration projects a shortage of more than 267,000 nurses and 167,000 allied health professionals by 2038, largely driven by an aging population and rising demand for services. AlliedCareer from EBSCOlearning serves as a comprehensive resource center dedicated to allied health career exploration and preparation. Job seekers can learn about careers in nursing, pharmacy, phlebotomy, rehabilitation therapy, respiratory therapy, sonography and more.
2. Boosting Job Skills
It’s never too late to develop new knowledge and skills. In doing so, individuals can make themselves stand out in the vast sea of job candidates. Encourage job seekers to brush up on their computer, internet and social media skills. Computer Skills offers dozens of video courses for those interested in learning popular software applications, such as Microsoft Excel and Adobe Photoshop. LearningExpress Library Complete also offers Amazon Web Services (AWS) training courses in a wide array of leading-edge technology topics. LearningExpress Library Complete also offers tutorials and practice sets to help job seekers build their math, writing and grammar skills. They’ll also find tutorials, e-books and practice tests to help them prepare for the GED® test, college admissions exams and occupational certification tests. They’ll even find a keyboarding tutorial to help them brush up on their typing skills. For those interested in pursuing a skilled trade, BlueCareer offers a variety of video and virtual training opportunities.
3. Creating a Stand-Out Resume
To secure an interview, job seekers must create a résumé that stands out from the competition. Not only should candidates format their résumé professionally, but they should also use dynamic, relevant keywords that align with the positions they're seeking.
Job & Career Accelerator's AI-Powered Résumé Builder helps users create polished, professional résumés with confidence in a secure, library-friendly environment. Whether they upload an existing résumé, import information from LinkedIn or answer a few simple questions, the guided tool combines AI-assisted drafting, expert-vetted samples and step-by-step guidance to support users of all experience and digital literacy levels.
4. Getting Comfortable with Virtual Job Interviews
Many of today's employers conduct initial interviews virtually. According to Forbes Contributor Joseph Liu, “You have to be able to bring the same level of enthusiasm, professionalism, and communication that you would to an in-person interview.” Remind job seekers to test out their videoconferencing software in advance of the scheduled interview. In addition, Job & Career Accelerator offers an “Interview with Confidence” tutorial which walks job seekers through the stages of the interview process and provides strategies to help them prepare.
5. Networking
According to 2018 research, the average job search takes about five months. In some industries, it could take longer, so job seekers need to expand their professional networks. Job & Career Accelerator offers a number of e-books with networking advice, “Networking and Informational Sample Letters,” “Social Networking for Business Success” and “Social Networking for Career Success.” In addition, users will find a helpful tutorial called, “Social Networking with Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.”
Last updated: July 17, 2026
