Legislature, community college attempt to address unemployment rate in Illinois

[September 20, 2024]  By Catrina Petersen | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) – Amidst Illinois having the nation's second-worst unemployment rate a new law now requires the State Board of Higher Education to annually compile a list of the most in-demand jobs in Illinois, their starting and median salaries and the typical education level for each.

Senate Bill 2862 became law this summer. State Sen. Andrew Chesney said the law is a step in the right direction.

"It certainly doesn’t address the underlying challenges. We have an outmigration of population, the young and the brightest don’t want to stay in the state and we are being backfilled because we are a sanctuary state in Illinois, and those that are coming here illegally are taking up a lot of our resources. Those that have the proper skill sets are leaving the state because of the adverse business climate,” said Chesney.

Like the legislature, John Wood Community College is trying to get creative when it comes to job marketing. JWCC launched the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) program. State Sen. Jil Tracy explained the program allows students to intern and attend college simultaneously.

"It’s a two-year program where they [the student] go to classes two days a week and they work as an intern three days a week and they come out of the two-year program with a salary of minimum of $63,000,” said Tracy.

Through the FAME program, students can intern with major manufacturing companies like General Mills, Gardner Denver and Dot Foods.

Last month the Illinois Department of Employment Security announced that the state's unemployment rate increased to 5.2%, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Kristin Richards stated in a news release that the agency remains committed to supporting Illinois’ talented, educated workforce, employers and job seekers

Senate Floor Debate - BlueRoomStream

Chesney said the new law, formerly Senate Bill 2862, addresses the symptoms of unemployment but doesn’t tackle underlying issues.

“We are simply losing population and we are losing those that would otherwise be occupying and taking these jobs,” said Chesney.

Illinois has experienced a population decline for 10 consecutive years, and in 2023, the state lost 32,826 residents. This was the only state in the region to lose residents, while neighboring states like Missouri, Iowa, and Indiana gained population.

Tracy said that the new FAME program at John Wood Community College is the first of its kind in Illinois and results in students earning a livable wage at the end of the two-year program.

"Our new community college president [Bryan Renfro] came from Texas and it [the program] had been used down in Texas and several other states. But this is the first program in Illinois, and already other community colleges in Illinois are calling him [about how to implement similar programs],” said Tracy.

Students that participate in the program earn at least $21 per hour while interning and upon completion of a two-year degree, major employers have agreed to pay students a minimum starting salary of $63,000 annually.

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