19,841

1,646

424

Active Apprentices

Total Employers

.Active Programs

The Apprenticeship Committee’s marketing workgroup focuses on providing information to businesses and job seekers on the benefits of apprenticeships. This is done by a coordinated effort between state and local apprenticeship entities. Apprenticeship benefits are shared via live meetings, the ApprenticeshipIL website, and social media.



The marketing workgroup has completed a number of large projects in the last several years to help provide better and clearer information to the interested parties. We have seen the following upgrades:

• Rebranding the program to Apprenticeship Illinois
• Creating a recognizable tagline of Prepare-Train-Retain
• Improvements to the website
• A social media presence – seeing LinkedIn followers go from zero to almost 1,450

A significant focus of the last two years for the workgroup has been the successful week of events and proclamations for National Apprenticeship Week. In 2022 and 2023, Illinois ranked number 1 in combined events and proclamations. In 2023, Illinois had nearly 1 in every 5 proclamations nationwide and 1 in 4 events. 

As the workgroup moves into 2024, the focus will be on developing and implementing a strategic marketing plan. This plan will be data-driven, establish measurable benchmarks for the number of new apprenticeships created and/or expanded, develop coordinated marketing efforts between the marketing workgroup and the local navigators, and work with the Apprenticeship Ambassadors to share their stories of success with businesses and individuals. 

The WIOA Summit, which will be held in Collinsville on April 24 & 25, will be a showcase for apprenticeship. Sessions will include successful techniques for working with businesses to implement apprenticeship programs, presentations from local workforce areas and community colleges, a presentation on the first teacher apprenticeship in Illinois, on working with high school students with disabilities, the apprenticeship model an employer has implemented to meet their critical need for trained staff, and an opportunity to meet some of the first group of Apprenticeship Ambassadors to hear their stories first hand.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced the appointments of 30 members to serve on the Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship to advise the Secretary of Labor on issues related to the national apprenticeship system, among them was Illinois' Daniel Serota. In 2023, Governor J.B. Pritzker appointed Daniel Serota - leading the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board and taking the reins as chair of the Apprenticeship Committee. "Daniel has worked with the IWIB to help business access sustainable recruitment and retention strategies, and I look forward to seeing his contributions applied to our apprenticeship system across the United States," said Governor JB Pritzker.

Daniel, the Government and Public Affairs VP at Aon, is not your average committee chair. He's also co-founder behind the Chicago Apprentice Network, teaming up with Accenture and Zurich N.A. to cook up apprenticeship opportunities in Chicago and throughout the State of Illinois.

Daniel leads the IWIB Apprenticeship Illinois Committee behind the scenes, advising the IWIB and the State on all things apprenticeships and work-based learning. The committee believes apprenticeships are like hidden gems, holding the key to boosting economic prospects and lifting up overlooked communities. Daniel's mission? Make apprenticeships the chosen career pathway, showing career-seekers and employers how this talent pipeline isn't just a win-win but a win-win-win for everyone involved.

For more information about the Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship, visit here.

DOL Read More | Illinois Read More | ACA DOL Read More | Suntimes News Read More

Northwestern Medicine's IT apprenticeship program has provided a structured pathway for aspiring professionals to learn and grow alongside experienced mentors. The program fosters a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing, ensuring that new talent is equipped with the skills and expertise needed to contribute effectively to the team's goals. The program also helps to address skill gaps with the team, promotes diversity and inclusion, and cultivates a pipeline of talent for future leadership postions within Northwester Medicine. "Our first year participating in the program was a huge success, with both of our apprentices being hired after their apprenticeship was complete; Gayle Edwards even became an Apprentice Ambassador for the Illinois Apprentice Ambassador Program!” - Tim Hite, Manager, Technical Support Services Central Region, Northwestern Memorial Healthcare.

Tri-Council Development Fund, in partnership with Painters District Council 14, 30, & 58, is on the hunt for their very first cohort of Industrial Painting Pre-Apprentices, and they're buzzing with excitement! This six-week pre-apprenticeship program is a statewide sensation, popping up with cohorts in Chicago, Aurora, and St. Louis starting April 9th in Aurora.

Qualified Candidates can get ready for hands-on training, career readiness, and skill-building galore - all on the house! The Industrial Painting Pre-Apprenticeship (IPP) Program is a solution to three challenges threatening the strength and security of our communities: 1. deteriorating infrastructure (bridges and water towers), 2. the decline of skilled labor, and 3. the growing demand for industrial painters. The IPP program is here to arm qualfied candidates with the knowledge, experience, career development skills, and certifications needed to shine in the industrial painting universe. It's a candidate's launchpad into a rewarding career - let's paint the town red with the Tri-Council Development Fund's new Industrial Painting Pre-Apprenticeship program!

IPP Intake Form | IPP Program Description & FAQ

Apprenticeship Highlighted Sessions

1. How to Provide Technical Assistance to Employers in Completing Apprenticeship Registration
2. West Star Aviation Apprenticeship Academy - Rethinking the Apprenticeship Model
3. Empowering Futures: Navigating and Replicating a Successful Special Education Apprenticeship Program
4. Paraprofessional+: Illinois' First Teacher Apprenticeship Program
5. Collaborative Excellence: Strategic Alliances and Actionable Insights in Apprenticeship Programs
6. The Voice of the Apprentice: A Panel on Illinois' Apprentice Ambassadors

• Job Training & Economic Development Teacher Apprenticeship Pilot Program NOFO - Read More
• Holly's House of Hope- Read More
• Governor Pritzker Announces $6 Million for CEJA Returning Residents Program - Read More
• Why Work-Based Learning Works: Chancellor Salgado Shares Insights in Washington, D.C. - Read More
• Com Ed, HIRE 360 Accepting New Applications for Take Charge EV Pre-Apprenticeship Program - Read More
• Governor Pritzker Announced the Illinois Works Bid Credit Program - Read More

MAY 5-11, 2024