Spring Legislative Session Skills Agenda Update
Written by Annika Cole
Our advocacy at the Skills Agenda Table has also brought together diverse partners to address pressing challenges and drive systemic change. The Illinois General Assembly concluded its spring legislative session. The Skills for Good Jobs coalition advocated for legislation that equitably dedicates Illinois resources to workforce development, eliminates structural employment barriers, promotes good jobs and strong community support, and increases research, data sharing, and transparency across state agencies. This state assembly session demonstrated the resilience of advocates during a tight budget year, despite federal executive orders and threats to the federal budget. We passed the Failure to Appear legislation, and the state budget increased funding for the Illinois Child Tax program by $100 million. We made progress toward increasing a SNAP minimum benefit, establishing a state-based Guaranteed Income Fund, and rectifying structural inequities in the state’s contracting and payment to health and human service providers.
While some bills fell short of passage this spring session, we are committed to continuing to fight for workers and working families throughout the 104th General Assembly’s two-year term. With the effects of federal executive orders and the upcoming federal budget bill, we understand that the Illinois General Assembly will be working hard to counteract a deeply unjust federal bill that will cut Medicaid, SNAP, housing support, and clean energy investments to provide tax cuts to billionaires. Workforce development is no stranger to being asked to do more with less, and it is more important than ever to ensure that we are collectively fighting against cuts that will negatively impact job seekers and our communities. Chicago Jobs Council will continue to build on the groundwork we have laid, empower workforce development champions, and build a more resilient and equitable workforce development system.
Chicago Skills-based Hiring
We’re happy to share that the Chicago City Council passed the Skills-Based Hiring Substitute Ordinance, sponsored by Alderman Gilbert Villegas. The legislation amends Chapter 2-74 of the Municipal Code of Chicago to allow the Department of Human Resources to consider relevant work experience that is equivalent to a college degree for eligibility for hire to a position in City employment.
Advocacy Manager Annika Cole brought together partners across the sector to provide public comment.
Thank you so much to all of our partners for the support during this process. We were honored to testify on behalf of Chicago Jobs Council and the Skills for Good Jobs coalition at the Workforce Development committee hearing to speak about the critical need to remove barriers for job seekers and tear the paper ceiling in Chicago. Special thanks to Blair Corcoran de Castillo and Jalencia Wade from Opportunity@Work, who shared virtual testimony on the impactful Paper Ceiling research they have done, grounded in the national movement to remove unnecessary degree requirements.
Thank you to Jeanette Perez Sanchez, a Revolution Workshop graduate with Clune, Anne VanderWeele from New Moms, and Sheryl Holman from Community Assistance Programs for joining us at City Hall and sharing the importance of the ordinance during public comment time. Thank you to Naomi Dodd and Nahomi Pinto for providing public comments! Thank you to Manufacturing Renaissance, HIRE360, Employment & Employer Services (E&ES), Center for Changing Lives, Per Scholas, Cannabis Equity IL Coalition, Community Youth Development Institute, Revolution Workshop, RiseKit, Hire Heroes USA, Chicago Women in Trades, New Moms, Women Employed, Community Assistance Programs, SkillUp Coalition, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, and Cara Collective for sharing their support of the ordinance with City Council.
