New Release: Report on the Metro Chicago Region's Economy
The Workforce Boards in partnership with the Metro Economic Growth Alliance of Chicago (MEGA) have issued the Overview of the Economy report. The report provides the most recent economic indicator data for the region and is the first in a series of quarterly reports. Future reports will focus on sectors that drive the region's economy.
New Release: ARRA Summer Youth Employment Program Report
The Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago have released the Metropolitan Chicago Region ARRA Summer Youth Employment Programs report. The report provides information on how funds made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) were utilized to provide summer employment opportunities to more than 12,000 youth throughout the region.
New Release: Metropolitan Chicago Region Summer Youth Employment Program Video
The Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago have produced a video for the purpose of communicating the value of the metropolitan Chicago region’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) summer youth programs and putting faces to a few of the organizations, businesses, and youth who were part of those programs. Links to the complete video as well as segments of the video are provided below.
Summer Youth Employment Programs funded through the ARRA of 2009
| Video Segments |
Regional Youth Forum
On October 15, 2009, The Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago convened a regional Youth Forum. The purpose of the forum was to share best practices and lessons learned in administering the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) summer youth employment program. The forum provided attendees the opportunity to learn from a variety of individuals directly involved in the program – including panels of individuals administering exemplary programs and youth that benefited from their participation in the program. Copies of the agenda and presentations are available below.
Chicago Department of Family and Support Services Presentation
Elgin Community College Presentation
RR Donnelley Logistics Presentation
U.S. Department of Labor Presentation
WIA Reauthorization Recommendations
The Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago have submitted WIA reauthorization recommendations to the the U.S. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. In a letter to Committee members, the eight Workforce Board Chairs who represent the regional consortium of Workforce Boards encourage the Committee to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 this year and provide specific recommendations regarding provisions of the Act that should be changed as well as those that are being scrutinized for change but should remain as they are currently written.
WIA Reauthorization Recommendations
Middle-Skill Job Opportunities in the Metropolitan Chicago Region
The Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago have issued the Middle-Skills Job Opportunities in the Metropolitan Chicago Region report which provides information on opportunities in middle-skill jobs in the metropolitan Chicago region. Middle-skill jobs are defined as those jobs that require some training and/or education beyond high school but less than a bachelor’s degree. The report provides information specific to the region’s middle-skill job opportunities, educational/training requirements, and anticipated earnings. This report builds on information presented in America’s Forgotten Middle-Skill Jobs which examines issues related to the future demand for a middle-skilled labor force.
Workforce Development Policy Recommendations
The Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago (WBMC) and Metro Economic Growth Alliance of Chicago (MEGA) have issued a paper summarizing their views relative to a national workforce development policy. As organizations that are committed to advancing the economic vitality of the metropolitan Chicago region and that recognize the importance of a quality workforce to this endeavor, the WBMC and MEGA are uniquely qualified to provide policy recommendations on high priority workforce development issues.
Finance and Insurance Career Pathways
The Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago in partnership with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Bankers Association, Illinois State Association of Health Underwriters, Illinois League of Financial Institutions, and the Illinois Mortgage Bankers Association have released the Finance and Insurance Career Pathways publication. The report examines career paths and skills crosswalks within the finance and insurance sector, comprised of the banking, insurance and securities industries. Given the structural and cyclical changes impacting employment in this sector, particularly the banking and securities industries, information in this report is particularly useful to human resource personnel, career changers, and workforce development organizations responding to the skill needs of employers and individuals.
Regional Indicator Report: Our Future Workforce
The Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago have issued the Our Future Workforce report for the purposes of providing specific information on the metropolitan Chicago region's future workforce - its youth. Information is examined in the context of today's youth becoming tomorrow's workforce and issues that impact their acquisition of the knowledge, skills, and experience needed for future high demand occupations.
Regional Indicator Report: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Skills - The Foundation for a Highly Skilled Workforce
Employment projections indicate that the jobs of tomorrow will require higher science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skill levels supported with lifelong learning. The Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago have issued the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Skills:The Foundation for a Highly Skilled Workforce report for the purpose of providing specific information on the metropolitan Chicago region's growing need to increase STEM skills of its current and future workforce.
For additional information, click on the STEM tab above or visit www.MetroChicagoSTEM.com.
