AeA Partners with Illinois workNet to Offer
Comprehensive Technology Employment Resource Center

For the past several months, AeA's Midwest Council has worked with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity team to develop the information technology cluster for Illinois workNet, a comprehensive online employment resource center. Illinois workNet is a free resource that provides career, education and work support information for all Illinois residents and businesses. Illinois workNet connects individuals looking for employment with employers looking for workers through the convenience of a user-friendly website or onsite locations throughout the state.The program aims to cultivate a well-trained workforce by providing valuable resources for the state's workforce and businesses, creating a solid foundation for a thriving 21st century economy.

Given the crucial need to attract and retain technology talent in our state, we are strongly encouraging all companies in Illinois to utilize this resource in your recruitment and employment transition efforts. Please pass this email along to the appropriate contacts within your company. No other resource provides such a comprehensive portfolio of employment resources, including, but not limited to:

The Illinois workNet Information Technology site--The Illinois workNet Information Technology site is dedicated to Illinois' dynamic, high-growth technology industry. The site is a new resource that allows individuals to explore careers and leading businesses in the Information Technology industry.  

Employment Opportunities--There are currently thousands of open technology employment opportunities in Illinois posted on Illinois workNet. Find the job you are looking for fast, through this job search tool that draws from the databases of national job boards, local job boards, Fortune 1000 corporations, local government sites, national recruiters, military sites, major hospitals, major non-profit organizations, major newspapers, and web sites of all employers with over 500 employees, based on your specific job search criteria. For a specific industry focus, Illinois workNet's partnership with careerbuilder.com provides a direct connection to jobs in information technology.

Compensation--Illinois workNet provides comprehensive data on current/actual wages and compensation for key information technology positions in Illinois. Research the wages for occupations in your area and which jobs are in demand in your economic region.

Post Jobs Today for FREE--Most job seekers and businesses are familiar with careerbuilder.com which is the largest internet job search, employment and career site. For some small businesses, the $419 per job posting may have prevented them from using this service. However, the exciting news is that careerbuilder.com has partnered with Illinois workNet. Business services teams post local jobs for free on the careerbuilder.com/Illinois workNet webpage. Businesses take advantage of this resource simply by contacting their local business services teams. Enter your zip code for your local services team contact.

Education and Training Programs - Learn about education and training programs offered in the State of Illinois. This search provides information on program overviews, admission requirements, recommended preparatory classes, and more.

Skills Assessment and Employment Resources--The Illinois Career Information System provides a SKILLS Assessment that helps you identify your present job skills, identify occupations that match those skills, understand what skills are required for a given occupation, and determine what training and skills you need for a particular job.  

Regional Economic Snapshot for Key Industry Clusters--The Illinois workNet(TM) Regional Industry Snapshot provides a concise, readable presentation of current workforce trends in a particular Illinois region.  The Snapshot offers businesses, economic and workforce professionals, and the public, a valuable aid to understanding regional labor market trends. The Snapshot renders this often complex data into a visual form useful to the novice or the expert.

AeA is proud to partner with DCEO to highlight the many critical employment resources provided through Illinois workNet, all of which are designed to attract and retain leading technology talent in Illinois, and to help you access that talent. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.