Talent & Workforce

“Top 5 Best Suburbs for Young Professionals in the Chicago Area” - Niche.com

Triton College - Workforce Empowerment Initiative

For more information, contact Triton College at wei@triton.edu

The Workforce Empowerment Initiative (WEI) is a grant-funded program sponsored by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB). Its mission is to expand access to career training for individuals who have historically been excluded from workforce opportunities, faced limited pathways to postsecondary education, or been systematically underrepresented in high-demand, high-wage industries. The WEI program provides tuition-free training in high-growth sectors and participants receive comprehensive support services designed to remove barriers and promote student success. These services include:

• Job training and skills development
• Job placement assistance
• Employability skills workshops
• Support for earning industry-recognized credentials
• Networking with local employers
• Assistance addressing personal or academic barriers

Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership - American Job Center Network

For more information, visit the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership at chicookworks.org

American Job Centers (AJCs) provide career seekers with personalized guidance, skill-building resources and connections to real opportunities. For employers, AJCs are strategic allies offering access to local talent, hiring support and workforce training incentives that strengthen entire industries. Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, with those dollars administered regionally by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development (DCEO) and guided by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), AJCs reflect commitment to equity for all, access, and community investment. The Partnership leads Local Workforce Investment Area 7, Illinois’ largest, as the designated recipient of workforce development funds for Chicago and suburban Cook County.

State of Illinois - Office of Employment and Training

For more information, contact the Office of Employment & Training at workforce@illinois.gov

The State of Illinois Office of Employment and Training supports innovative workforce programs and career, training and employment services that connect employers to a highly skilled workforce. Providing assistance and resources for job seekers is central to Illinois’ commitment to ensuring that businesses thrive in our state.

Oak Park also offers numerous opportunities for high schoolers, college students and young professionals to get their foot in the door and begin advancing their career prospects.

Oak Park NEXT

For more information, contact the Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce at info@oprfchamber.org

Oak Park NEXT (Navigating Employment and eXperience Training) is a program created and led by the Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce. This youth internship program is a business support and workforce development initiative designed to strengthen Oak Park’s local economy. The program connects local businesses with pre-vetted local youth for funded internships that address real staffing needs while building a local workforce pipeline. For participating businesses, Oak Park NEXT reduces hiring risk, offsets labor costs through wage reimbursement and provides structured support in recruitment, matching, onboarding and supervision. For students, the program offers meaningful work experience rooted in Oak Park’s business community measured by skills gained relevant to industry needs and potential internship-to-employment conversion.

Oak Park and River Forest High School

For more information, visit oprfhs.org

Oak Park and River Forest High School offers employment opportunities for students through their Human Resources Department. The high school also offers a job board, where local businesses can post part-time opportunities for students.

IDES - Hire the Future

For more information, visit ides.illinois.gov

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) offers the Hire The Future program, designed to provide youth, ages 16-24 with employment assistance, job readiness and career development services. IDES makes it easy for qualified job seekers to find employment by finding careers that match your skills and interests by using their online job resources.

Cook County Connects

For more information, visit cookcountyil.gov

Opportunity Works places young adults in subsidized internships, exposes them to viable careers, expands their skill sets and connects them to the training and resources they need to achieve long-term employment in growing industries. The program will target south and west suburbs, but will be open to all of suburban Cook County, offering sector specific training in Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics (TDL); Information Technology; and Manufacturing.