Goals and Objectives
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The Ultimate Goals:
To maximize resources, accelerate regional systemic change, have greater economic impact and ensure larger returns on investment.
Support Business and Economic Development:
The Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago are convening industry summits which provide a forum for business, education, business associations, chambers of commerce and community organizations to identify workforce issues and solutions. Targeted industries include healthcare, manufacturing, technology, finance/insurance, transportation and distribution, and hospitality. These summits will provide a basis for establishing ongoing working relationships with these business sectors of the region - which collectively represent over 70% of the region's employment. Additionally, the Workforce Boards' 2003 State of the Workforce Report for the Metropolitan Chicago Region presents a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the region's labor market and workforce development challenges which must be addressed to ensure the region's economic prosperity - essential information for community and economic development leaders and stakeholders.
Connect Business and Education
The Workforce Boards are helping make education more relevant to the labor market. Through industry summits and other initiatives such as the Critical Skill Shortages Initiative, education will be apprised of the basic, technical and specialized skills required by the region's job market. This information will be used to target resources and drive an educational and training agenda to provide individuals with the skills needed to fill todayıs hard-to-fill jobs and tomorrow's high demand occupations.
Develop the Emerging Workforce:
The Workforce Boards are working to provide the region's youth with the career information needed to make informed choices regarding their future. Through a youth services resource mapping project, the region is identifying current career awareness, guidance and preparation services available to youth though the education system and community based organizations, identifying gaps in services and developing strategies to address those gaps.