In a recent episode of the County Conversation podcast, Kellan Graves, Employment Engagement Team supervisor with Fairfax County’s Department of Family Services, shared insights about helping job seekers and employers in Fairfax County and Northern Virginia.
The Employment Engagement Team (formerly known as the Business Services Team) works to improve economic mobility – helping people and families better their financial situation through employment.
“Economic mobility is basically taking someone where they’re at, and in most cases, it’s unemployed or underemployed, and providing them with wrap-around services to help them move from that state to a point where they are self-sufficient,” Graves said.
These wrap-around services can include help with housing, childcare, resume writing and job searching. The program serves about 20,000 to 30,000 job seekers each year through their employment centers.
Services for Employers
A key part of the program focuses on connecting employers with qualified workers. One popular service is organizing free job fairs.
“We put together the flyers, we do the marketing, we cover all of that. The only thing the employer has to do is show up and be ready to hire.”
The program also offers financial incentives through their On-the-Job Training program. Employers can receive up to $5,000 in wage reimbursement when hiring qualified candidates. This federal program requires employers to keep workers for at least one year after the training period.
Support for Job Seekers
Job seekers receive personalized help through case managers who provide:
- Career assessments
- Resume writing assistance
- Mock interview practice
- Job skills training
- Soft skills development
“These are individuals that we’ve been working with where they received a case manager, there’s a relationship that’s built, resume has been worked on, job skills, soft skills, all of that stuff has been addressed before we even refer that person over to you,” Graves explains.
Growing Industries
The program focuses on connecting workers with growing industries in Northern Virginia, particularly:
- Information Technology positions
- Healthcare jobs, including CNAs and registered nurses
- Remote work opportunities
Community Partnerships
The program works closely with many local organizations including:
- Fairfax County Economic Development
- Fairfax County Public Schools
- George Mason University
- INOVA Healthcare
- Neighborhood and Community Services
Looking ahead in 2025, the Employment Engagement Team plans to increase their visibility in the community and continue helping both job seekers and employers thrive across the county and Northern Virginia.
Employment Engagement
Find more information about the Employment Engagement Team. If you need further assistance not found online, e-mail DFSVCWAnnandale@fairfaxcounty.gov.
The County Conversation Podcast
The “County Conversation” is a podcast featuring employees and subject matter experts from the Fairfax County Government discussing programs, services and items of interest to residents of Fairfax County. Listen to past episodes of “County Conversation.” To find other county podcasts, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/podcasts.
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