Workforce Development Public Policy Position Paper

01/27/2009

The Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago, in partnership with the Metro Economic Growth Alliance of Chicago, has prepared a position paper to express the views of these two organizations on public policy relative to workforce development. The Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago is a regional consortium of Workforce Boards that have collaborated for the past eight years on initiatives that address workforce and economic development issues.  The Workforce Boards oversee development of a workforce system that provides individuals with education and training required for career opportunities in high demand occupations and provides employers with access to a skilled, competitive workforce. The Metro Economic Growth Alliance of Chicago is a partnership of lead economic organizations from throughout the metropolitan Chicago region that are committed to growing the regional economy through coordinated, effective business development. Both organizations recognize that the quality of its workforce is intrinsically linked to the strength of its economy.

The region represented by these two organizations is significant both in terms of its geographic area, its constituency, and its contribution to Illinois’ and the nation’s economy.   

  • The region includes the City of Chicago and the following eleven counties: Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, Livingston, McHenry, and Will. 
  • The region represents a population of 8.9 million, 69% of Illinois’ population.  
  • The region represents a workforce of 5.3 million, 70% of Illinois’ workforce.
  • The region represents 207,000 employers, 70% of Illinois’ employers.  
  • Chicago was recently ranked #8 as a global city.  
  • The number of jobs in the region increased by 303,792 over the last five years.

The Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago and Metro Economic Growth Alliance of Chicago support establishment of a national workforce development policy and provide the recommendations contained herein as a framework for such a policy. Inaction is unacceptable – now is the time for an increased commitment and investment at the federal level in development of our nation’s workforce.

Read the complete paper.