Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Get answers to common questions and more specific situations about all kinds of businesses.

What if I am unemployed and would like to start a business?

Entrepreneurial Training Program Available to Dislocated Workers

Unemployed individuals interested in starting their own business and becoming self-employed may apply to the New Jersey Self-Employment Assistance and Entrepreneurial Training (SEA) Program which is administered by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Employment and Training. This program offers qualified dislocated workers the following benefits:

  • A waiver of the unemployment active search for work requirement
  • SEA allowances, in lieu of regular unemployment insurance benefits
  • Counseling and technical assistance on developing a business plan
  • Training grant for entrepreneurial training

If you are interested in learning more about this program, ask a representative of the New Jersey Department of Labor Employment Service, Unemployment Insurance Service or JTPA to schedule you for an orientation on reemployment opportunities at https://nj.gov/labor/.

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