Illinois
Workforce Success Stories
CUSTOMER SUCCESS STORIES
WORKFORCE EXPERTS
Illinois Workforce Innovation Board
Sean McCarthy, Acting Director
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
500 E. Monroe Street
Springfield, IL 62701
Contact Info
Phone: (217) 785-6280
Email: sean.mccarthy@illinois.gov
KEY WORKFORCE PRIORITIES
1.
Placing a High Priority on Sector Initiatives.
Illinois' innovative approach blends federal, state and local investments to promote regional initiatives targeting high-growth industry sectors, including training in green energy, agriculture, healthcare and healthcare IT, transportation/distribution/logistics (TDL) and manufacturing.
2.
Meeting the Needs of Special Populations. Illinois provides special populations such as youth, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and low-skilled workers, with access to training that helps them move upward in targeted career pathways. In addition, workers impacted by Trade receive a coordinated approach to service delivery at the local level. Illinois was one of nine states chosen by U.S. DOL to implement the "Disability Employment Initiative."
3.
Expanding Access through Technology.
Illinois continues to expand services through our Illinois workNet® portal, which provides additional resources in key sectors and content areas. The portal is a one-stop-shop of information whether a visitor is job seeker, business owner, or LWIA staff, providing assessment tools and a tracking system to better measure the program success of clients.
FAST FACTS
- Illinois' workforce network has helped thousands of people through the recession. Illinois expended over $193M of federal Workforce Investment Act funding during FY10 across the adult, dislocated worker (including Rapid Response) and youth programs, serving over 52,000 customers. An additional 10,000+ dislocated workers impacted by trade received services through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act and/or the Trade Adjustment Assistance Globalization Act.
- Illinois is using technology to serve more clients. In FY10, 96,000 individuals received self-access services at our centers, or through Illinois workNet's online portal. In addition, we delivered nearly 50,000 Microsoft online office and technology class vouchers from Microsoft via the portal in only three months in 2009.
- Illinois has become a leader in providing robust summer youth employment programs, including our online pre- and post-assessments and work-readiness activities being recognized by the U.S. DOL as a national benchmark. In summer 2009, for example, Illinois provided 17,000 youth with work readiness training and real world-experience in state park conservation, historic preservation, grounds keeping, event management, energy conservation and energy audits. 79% of youth attained their work readiness goal.
- The Illinois Workforce Innovation Board (IWIB) and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) created the WIA Works Coordinated Communications Campaign in 2010, a vehicle for Illinois' 22 LWIAs to publicize their services and success stories and deepen their relationships with members of the congressional delegation prior to reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). Find out more at www.illinoisworknet.com/WIOA
LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARDS
Find local Workforce Development Boards in this state
WORKFORCE TESTIMONIALS
"Thanks to [our Business Services Rep] and the Resource Room, I am employed! As a mature worker who did not know how and where to begin a job search after being laid off, the services provided through the McHenry County Workforce Network were invaluable. I am working as a part-time caregiver for Visiting Angels in Crystal Lake. Visiting Angels was one of the employers listed on the College Central web site which I learned about in the resource room. Again, thank you for helping me and for all you do to help those unemployed in McHenry County."
Celia Read
"The Job Support Group alleviated the stress of the job search. It was nice to be able to meet with people every week that were in the same situation to talk and share ideas. It made the job search a much less daunting process. I got a chance to meet others who were going through the same [situation]. The Job Support Group provided me with opportunity to put my job search frustrations into perspective."
Joe Bitz
"I look forward to the Interview Skills Seminar tomorrow. Let me say also how much I appreciate McHenry County Workforce Network and all the people like you who provide such great help. [Several of us] were saying after today's seminar, how much we have gotten out of the ones we've attended so far."
