It is the purpose of the Workforce Development and Applicant Services Department to encourage applicants for employment to consider careers in civil service and to market Jefferson County as an employer of choice in the greater Birmingham area. The department advertises job vacancies utilizing a variety of media to attract a broad and diverse pool of qualified candidates for open positions within the Jefferson County Merit System and strives to establish a presence in the employment community locally, regionally, and nationally through job announcements, attendance at career fairs, recruiting at high schools, colleges and universities, special recruiting events, and by participation in professional and civic organizations. Workforce Development and Applicant Services works with member jurisdictions to develop and execute recruitment strategies and to identify quality candidates for employment.

The department is also responsible for processing Requests for Certification and issuing Certification Lists to hiring departments throughout the Merit System.

The department is committed to providing equal opportunity in the recruitment process on the basis of race, sex, creed, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, or veteran status to the full extent protected by the law.