September 2022

September is officially Workforce Development Month! Created in 2005 by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) to raise awareness about the importance of our industry to a growing national economy, this month provides an important opportunity to remind political leaders, businesses, educational agencies, economic development organizations, labor unions, and customers about the value our programs and services bring to the local economy.

We encourage you, our valued board members, partners, community stakeholders, job seekers, and employers, to join us in celebrating Workforce Development Month.

Lake County Workforce Development Department to Receive 2022 Service Provider of the Year Award from Lake County Coalition to Reduce Recidivism

The Lake County Workforce Development Department has been nominated by the Lake County Coalition to Reduce Recidivism to receive the 2022 Service Provider of the Year Award. The award is set to be presented at the Coalition’s 19th Annual Fundraising Event on Friday, October 7, 2022, in Wadsworth.

The Coalition, alongside community partners such as the Workforce Development Department, works to reduce recidivism by assisting people with criminal records in becoming productive members of the community via employment placement and supportive services enabling these individuals to become self-sufficient.

L to R: Career Specialist, Claudia U.; Individual Achievement Award winner, Jodin Jenkins; Jodin’s mother.

Statewide Payroll Jobs Up Slight Increase to Statewide Employment Rate in August

According to the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the unemployment rate rose +0.1 percentage point to 4.5 percent, while nonfarm payrolls increased by +4,100 in August.

The industry sectors with the largest over-the-month gains in employment include: Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+4,500), Construction (+3,500), and Government (+1,500).

"Illinois has seen considerable improvements in its unemployment rate and has added nearly 240,000 jobs, signaling a positive long-term trajectory,” said DCEO Director Sylvia I. Garcia. “Looking ahead, DCEO will continue to provide resources and training opportunities for job seekers while continuing to attract job-creators to Illinois."

National Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month takes place September 15 to October 15 every year as a time to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the American Latino community.

Beginning in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month was originally observed as “Hispanic Heritage Week”, but it was later extended to a month in 1988. Since then, HHM has been celebrated nationwide through festivals, art shows, conferences, community gatherings, and much more. The month also celebrates the independence days of several Latin American countries, including: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on September 15th, Mexico on September 16th, and Chile on September 18th. They also include holidays that recognize Hispanic contributions such as Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship Day that is celebrated in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Visit the National Hispanic Heritage Month website, hosted by the Library of Congress, to learn more and discover upcoming events.

2022 Summer Youth Employment Program Recap

The 2022 Lake County Summer Youth Employment Program recently wrapped up another exciting summer as 165 youth gained meaningful work experience while earning a paycheck. Funded by the Lake County Board, this program was offered in a hybrid format this year with an option for youth participants to partake in the traditional model working at a physical location or to participate in an online Work Readiness Bootcamp.

115 student workers were placed at 17 sites, including a mix of nonprofit organizations, local municipalities, and private or community-based organizations throughout Lake County. During this six-week program, students worked in a variety of areas including office support, day camp programs, and indoor/outdoor maintenance. They earned $10 per hour for 25 hours per week.

Click here to download the full recap.

Featured Career Path – Certified Nursing Assistant

A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is on the front line of patient care, interacting with patients and helping them with their day-to-day care. Becoming a CNA will lay the foundation for becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Nurse, creating the opportunity to explore various healthcare career pathways to one day become a radiologist, doctor, or surgeon.

Potential future career opportunities may include: Dietician, Health Information Technician, Home Health Aide, Licensed Practical Nurse, Medical Technologist, Nursing Aide, Registered Nurse, or Rehabilitation Aide.

Certified Nursing Assistant Job Stats in Lake County:

• Median Salary – $31,977
• Job Growth Over Next 10 Years – 7%
• Job Openings Over Next 10 Years – 3,156
• Education Level Needed – Certification
• Source: Emsi, 2021

Meet the Board – Board Member Dr. Michael Karner

Dr. Michael Karner is a current Board Member and Regional Superintendent of Schools at the Lake County Regional Office of Education.

In addition to his commitment to the Workforce Development Board, Michael was most recently the Principal at the Regional Safe School and is the current Varsity Football Defensive Coach for Antioch Community High School. He is also a lifelong Lake County resident.

The Lake County Regional Office of Education serves as an advocate for education by providing effective leadership, performing regulatory functions in partnership with the Illinois state board of education as directed by the School Code of Illinois, coordinating and delivering state and local services, and disseminating information to educators, school districts, and the community.

Partner Spotlight – Senior Community Service Employment Program

The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is a community service and work-based job training program for low-income, unemployed seniors. Participants gain work experience in a variety of community service activities at non-profit and public facilities, including schools, hospitals, day-care centers, and senior centers.

SCSEP is a key partner of the Lake County Workforce Development Board and is one of several organizations that participate in the Job Center under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

Job Seeker Success Story – Karyn

Karyn was laid off after 20 years working in information technology. She wanted to continue working at the executive level but had difficulty finding another job, so she decided to obtain network-related certifications to become more marketable and increase her career opportunities. She reviewed several schools before selecting a Project Management Professional training with Microtrain. After completing the training, she passed exams to obtain certificates in Green Belt Lean Six Sigma and Scaled Agile Framework.

Karyn was hired as a Senior Program Manager at Walgreens Boots Alliance. In her new role, she manages a large transition program to help the company move and centralize data in the cloud to develop effective analytics and make better business decisions. Karyn says that she would not have been financially able to participate in training while laid off without the funding of Workforce Development. She wants to give back by mentoring others.

2nd Annual Hire Lake County Job Fair

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

11:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Marriott Resort Lincolnshire

Sponsored by the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort, in partnership with the Village of Lincolnshire, Job Center of Lake County, and Lake County Workforce Development.

This is a chance for you to meet face-to-face with employers from across a variety of industries. This is a free event for job seekers. More than 85 employers will be present with 1,000+ jobs available! Free parking is available.

Click here for more information and to register online for this free event.

This month marks the one-year anniversary of launching this newsletter. Over the past year, we have shared many stories about the critical role workforce development plays in the region, as well as statewide and nationally. We are proud to have a board comprised of visionary leaders, all of which are highly focused on improving the workforce development system in Lake County. Additionally, our work would not be possible without the support of our many partners and community stakeholders, and sharing the successes of job seekers and employers in our region reiterates the value of our work.

Please forward this newsletter onto anyone who might benefit from learning more about the Lake County Workforce Development Board. And new subscribers can easily sign-up on our website at https://www.lakecountyworkforce.org/.

Mark Your Calendars! The Job Center of Lake County has a full calendar of helpful and informative events. To view all upcoming Job Center events, including workshops and job fairs, click here.

Upcoming Board/Committee Meetings:

October 12 – Executive Committee, 8:15 a.m. CDT

October 17 – Operations Committee, 9:00 a.m. CDT

October 18 – Employer Connections / Talent Pipeline Joint Committee, 9:00 a.m. CDT

November 17 – Workforce Development Board, 8:00 a.m. CDT