Goodwill Industries International is a network of 207 community-based, autonomous member organizations that serve people with workplace disadvantages and disabilities by providing job training and employment services, as well as job opportunities and post-employment support. Goodwill Industries of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin Counties offers wage-based transitional employment services to selected individuals who experience barriers to employment, including ex-offenders. Transitional employees work to sustain Goodwill's retail thrift store business as dock workers, donation site attendants, donation sorters and pricers, and retail store associates. Transitional employment is funded completely by Goodwill's retail profits. The work experience that clients gain as Goodwill Transitional Employees is designed to assist them in finding and keeping unsubsidized employment after leaving Goodwill. In addition to engaging in paid work, participants receive vocational counseling, case management, pre-vocational skills training, access to vocational skills training, placement assistance, and post-placement retention services.

The goal of this program is to help individuals make a successful transition to employment.

In 2001, Goodwill Industries of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin Counties employed 171 Transitional Employees.