The viewpoints of businesses are important to the success of the network; employers are represented on the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board (IWIB), the state’s workforce oversight panel, and on all boards of the state’s Local Workforce Innovation Areas.
Illinois is also reducing the skills gap by building capacity for economic development organizations, chambers of commerce and industry associations to prioritize workforce training and retention. Employers are the end customer in this effort. Illinois Pathways was launched in February 2012 to support Illinois’ goal of increasing the percentage of residents with high-quality degrees and credentials to 60% by the year 2025.
Illinois also plans to implement the major strategies promoted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) initiative. These TPM strategies provide the next steps in linking economic and workforce development and building STEM-related talent pipelines through the Illinois Pathways initiative.