By Danielle LeSure
September 15, 2008

August 24 through August 31 marked Chicago’s Workforce Development Week. Its goal was to increase awareness of the career services available to residents by local government agencies and community-based organizations across the city. Through Mayor Richard M. Daley’s collaborative WorkNet Chicago, 70 community organizations, 100 training providers, fiver Chicago-area workforce centers and two industry-focused workforce centers collaborated to provide free year-round employment services to 80,000 unemployed workers across Chicago last year. Having placed over 6,000 job seekers into new career fields, Workforce Development Week highlighted the efforts and contributions of WorkNet Chicago that provides services that include access to pre'screened job applicants for employers, workforce assessments, and training grants for incumbent workers.

With five major workforce centers located throughout the city – Southwest, Mid'south, Garfield, Pilsen, and Northside – job seekers are given access to daily workshops on resume writing, job readiness, interviewing skills, and conducting job searches via the internet. Each center also provides free copying, phone usage and e-mail accounts for their job search purposes. David Hanson, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development, stated, “During these challenging economic times, we want to remind Chicago job seekers and employers to make use of the city’s free employment and workforce development services. Our approach to securing employment for Chicagoans involved aligning workforce development, education, and economic development by building relationships with local employers and industry associations. Their insights help us in working with local training providers and city colleges to prepare job seekers for not just jobs but careers with pathways to success.”

Serving the needs of residents of high poverty zones, TANF recipients, ex-offenders, individuals who are homeless, persons with disabilities, veterans, and persons with limited English proficiency is a challenging task within today’s economic constraints. Through Daley’s WorkNet Chicago, employers are a part of efforts prior to interviewing job seekers by expressing their needs so centers can align their career services to produce a more desirable, qualified, and skilled set of workers. By building strategic public and private partnerships, training and career opportunities are created that meet the evolving workforce needs of Chicago businesses and residents. Elisa Cage, a former hair stylist of 23 years, sought to change her career field at the age of 44 by pursuing the healthcare industry. Disappointed in today’s softening economy, she went to the Southwest Workforce Center where she acquired certifications for Phlebotomist, Certified Nurse’s Assistant, and EKG technician after 13 weeks. Elisa was pleased with the services provided through WorkNet Chicago and found it to be a rewarding experience, stating, “I hadn’t been on a job interview in 23 years. Within weeks of getting my certifications I had a job.”