This article evaluated the use of motivational interviewing (MI) to increase employment. In Study 1, 910 unemployed participants were randomly assigned to either the control (standard employment program) or the experimental condition. Experimental participants who were not ready to seek employment (assessed by the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale) received MI plus the standard employment program. Study 2 evaluated this approach within the entire Opportunities for Employment population (N = 992). Compared with the control participants, participants in the experimental condition in Study 1 and participants in Study 2 increased motivation for employment, employment program participation, and employment and employment retention.