August is Black Business Month and is a time to recognize the contributions of the 132,000+ black-owned businesses throughout Illinois. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will host a series of webinars "highlighting community leaders, organizations, and business enterprises through a campaign inviting Illinoisians to "Shop Black-owned Business Saturdays." Learn more about Black Business Month.
Observed annually, December 3rd is the International Day of People with Disabilities. This day is an opportunity to recognize and advocate for the rights and well-being of individuals with disabilities. It is important to be aware of this as there are people with disabilities in all walks of life, from politics to the workplace and in our culture. Learn more.
November 14th – 20th is National Apprenticeship Week (NAW). Take advantage of NAW to learn more about apprenticeships, and if they might be a good fit for you or your company. This weeklong nationwide celebration brings together business leaders, career seekers, labor, educational institutions, and other critical partners to demonstrate their support for apprenticeships. Learn more about NAW.
August is Black Business Month and is a time to recognize the contributions of the 132,000+ black-owned businesses throughout Illinois. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will host a series of webinars "highlighting community leaders, organizations, and business enterprises through a campaign inviting Illinoisians to "Shop Black-owned Business Saturdays." Learn more about Black Business Month.
National Safety Month focuses on reducing leading causes of injury and death at work, on the road, and in our homes and communities. Observed annually in June, the National Safety Council provides downloadable resources highlighting different safety topics. Learn more about National Safety Month.
November 15th-19th is National Apprenticeship Week (NAW). Take advantage of NAW to learn more about apprenticeships, and if they might be a good fit for you or your company. This weeklong nationwide celebration brings together business leaders, career seekers, labor, educational institutions, and other critical partners to demonstrate their support for apprenticeships. Find events, proclamations, and more on the Apprenticeship Illinois National Apprenticeship Week page.
Every October is Manufacturing Month. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is celebrating present and future manufacturers in the state. Illinois is the “fourth largest manufacturing state in the country, with over 18,000 companies employing over 550,000 Illinoisans. DCEO will be hosting upcoming webinars showcasing manufacturing’s bright future in Illinois. Learn more about Manufacturing Month.
National Safety Month focuses on reducing leading causes of injury and death at work, on the road, and in our homes and communities. Observed annually in June, the National Safety Council provides downloadable resources highlighting different safety topics each week. Learn more about these topics and resources available on Illinois workNet so you can stay safe on and off the job.
Illinois workNet will be holding an upcoming webinar for Employers that will demonstrate the New Virtual Job Fair (VJF) tools available on Illinois workNet. The new VJF tools are an opportunity for Employers to easily advertise their organization and connect with qualified job applicants at no cost. Employers will be able to setup virtual job booths where interested job seekers can learn more about their organization and available job openings. Employers may also request webinar assistance when hosting their Virtual Job Fair events. Register for the webinar here.
Did COVID-19 affect your job? Help is available here:
- Chicago-area job openings
- Statewide job openings
- COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits Information
- Attend a Virtual Job Fair
- If you were part of a large layoff, check for your company and available services here
- Prepare for a new job
Read this article to find out what resources are available.
March 10, 2020 - SBDC Day recognizes the success and effect of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) for small businesses and economic development. Approximately 1,000 SBDCs in the country will share their success stories through social media, public relations initiatives, and several events in-person and online. Read more about how you can participate for SBDC Day 2020.
March 4, 2020 - March is Women’s History Month. During this month we look back and celebrate the contributions that women have made not only to our history, but also our workforce. Illinois workNet is excited about the strides women have made. While there is more work and progress to be made, it is important to recognize the contributions and influence women have had in different industries in the past and present. Learn more about Women’s History Month.
The "Why I Apprentice" national JFF contest is calling upon today's youth to share with the world why being an Apprentice has changed their life. Are you an Apprentice with a story to tell? Learn more about how you can share your story.
Every February is Career & Technical Education (CTE) Month®. Career Technical Education (CTE) provides students with opportunities to gain the necessary academic knowledge and technical skills necessary to succeed in high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand careers. care, and much more. Learn how to celebrate CTE Month.
January 6, 2020 - Every January is Mentoring Month. This month aims to expand quality mentoring opportunities to connect more of our community’s youth with caring adults. By finding and growing mentoring opportunities, our communities can improve and shape our future. From finding a mentor to becoming one, take the initiative to find the mentoring opportunity for you today.
November 27, 2019 - Observed annually, December 3rd is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This day is an opportunity to recognize and advocate for the rights and well-being of individuals with disabilities. It is important to be aware of this as there are people with disabilities in all walks of life from politics to the workplace and in our culture. Learn more on how you can be an ally.
November 26, 2019 - This Saturday, November 30th, is Small Business Saturday across the United States. This day is dedicated to celebrating and supporting small businesses and all they contribute to our communities. Learn more about this day and how you can participate by clicking here.
November 8, 2019 - National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), November 11 - 17, 2019, is almost here! Take advantage of NAW to learn more about apprenticeships, and if they might be a good fit for you or your company. For more information about this week, click here.
November 7, 2019 - In honor of Veterans Day (11/11/19), the State of Illinois would like to thank all who have served in the United States Armed Forces. We appreciate your sacrifice to help protect us at home and abroad. Illinois, through the collaboration of networked partnerships, has many resources available to former and current Military Services Members (Active, Guard, and Reserve) as well as Military Spouses.
November 4, 2019 - Starting a business is a lot of work, but you're not in it alone. This month is Entrepreneurship Month, and there are many resources available that can help walk you through the steps it takes to get your business started. For more information about these resources and how they can help you and your business, click here.
November 4, 2019 - The Illinois workNet team has made an update to its account system to keep your Illinois workNet account more secure. The next time you log into Illinois workNet, you will be prompted to verify or update your account's personal information and provide a secret question and answer, if you have not already done so. Read more about the account update.
October 7, 2019 - October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM). This month raises awareness about the importance of keeping private information that is online safe. To learn more about what Illinois workNet has to offer and more about this month, visit this page.
October 4, 2019 - The month of October is Disability Employment Awareness Month. This month focuses on the contributions of workers with disabilities and helps educate organizations on the value and impact of a diverse workforce. For more information about this month and what resources Illinois workNet has, click here.
October 1, 2019 - Every October is Manufacturing Month. Manufacturing Month brings together hundreds of manufacturers across America to host students, educators, parents, job seekers and other local community members at open houses and other public events designed to showcase manufacturing technology and careers. As this month gets started, be sure you have the resources to reach your manufacturing career, training, and employment goals. Check out Illinois workNet’s resources today. Click here for more information.
September 23, 2019 - This week is Employ Older Workers Week! Older workers are an important force that contribute to our workplaces and communities with their wisdom and experiences. For more information and resources, click here.
September 22 – 28 is Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. The goal of this week is to raise awareness about the importance of adult education and family literacy. Learn more about this week and how you can participate for this week by click here.
July 10, 2019 - Thursday, July 18th is the College Changes Everything Conference. Started by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), this annual conference is an opportunity for individuals to share how their college or higher education experience has made a lasting and positive impact in their lives. Click here for more information.
June 28, 2019 – On July 1st, three Illinois counties (Calhoun, Jersey, and Douglas) will have their associated LWIAs re-designated as part of the Illinois Local Workforce Area Realignment Project. The Illinois workNet team has updated its services and tools to reflect these changes. Click here for more information.
June 3, 2019 - The month of June is National Safety Month. This month focuses on reducing the leading causes of injury and death at work, on the road, and in our homes and communities. For more information about this month and how you can stay safe, please click here.
May 9, 2019 - The month of May is Older Americans Month (OAM). This year’s theme is Connect, Create, Contribute. This month recognizes older adults and their contributions around the country and encourages them to participate in activities within their communities. For more information about this month, please click here.
May 6 – May 10 is National Construction Safety Week. This week acknowledges the importance of workplace safety and how best to avoid injuries on the job. For more information about how to stay safe and what you can do, click here.
May 5th – May 11th is National Small Business Week. This week is a time to recognize how much small businesses benefit our lives and communities. For more information on how to participate and contribute during Small Business Week, click here.
March 11, 2019 - SBDC Day recognizes the success and effect of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) for small businesses and economic development. Approximately 1,000 SBDCs in the country will share their success stories through social media, public relations initiatives, and several events in-person and online. This year’s SBDC Day will be on Wednesday, March 20, 2019. Click here for more information.
February 18, 2019 - Workforce professionals and service providers will have the opportunity to learn the basics for different apprenticeship models and how best to take advantage of these opportunities in Illinois. These workshops are free of charge. Read more about the series here.
Read about Work Based Learning at the Illinois Governor's Summit that took place in October at Illinois Community College. Work Based Learning programs allow for individuals to support themselves while receiving education and experience.
Every October is Manufacturing Month. Manufacturing Month brings together hundreds of manufacturers across America to host students, educators, parents, job seekers and other local community members at open houses and other public events designed to showcase manufacturing technology and careers. As this month gets started, be sure you have the resources to reach your manufacturing career, training, and employment goals. Check out Illinois workNet’s resources today. For more information click here...