Kankakee County Labor Shed Market Analysis

The Grundy Livingston Kankakee Workforce Board contracted Chmura to perform a Labor Shed Market Analysis for Kankakee County. The full report offers an in-depth look at the labor market dynamics in and around Kankakee County, Illinois. This analysis is crucial for understanding the current labor supply, workforce characteristics, underemployment patterns, commuting trends, and skills gaps in the region.

The Employee Training Investment Program Grant can reimburse up to 50% of training costs, allowing manufacturers to provide their workers with the skills needed to keep them safe and productive as well as grow their abilities.

As the demands of leadership positions continue to evolve, the gap between required skills and employee capabilities is becoming wider. Shockingly, over 74% of leaders feel unprepared and lack the necessary training to face the challenges of their roles.

Kankakee Community College has added a free interactive tool to its website that helps students and prospective students find careers that match their interests. The software, called Emsi Career Coach, tailors career options for users based on questions about themselves. The personalized results include career titles, labor market data and academic programs that could lead to those demand occupations. The software can also be used to build resumes and connect to job openings locally and regionally. Career Coach is free and is available for anyone to use.

To help hospitality businesses make ends meet in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Illinois Department of Commerce has launched the Hospitality Emergency Grant Program with $14 million drawn from funds originally budgeted for job training, tourism promotion, and other purposes. Grant funds are available to support working capital like payroll and rent, as well as job training, retraining, and technology to support shifts in operations, like increased pick-up and delivery. Deadline to apply is April 1.