Welcome DEVON KROEGER, WIOA Business Services Specialist!

Devon joined the LWIA 23 team on October 16, 2023. Devon brings 26 years of military experience, as well as a Master's degree in Management and Leadership. Devon comes from Lake Land's Admissions Department, where he was integral in degree audits and serving students. He also gained a strong foundational understanding of curriculum development processes while he served on the Curriculum Committee. Devon recognizes the importance of utilizing highly skilled individuals within the workforce.

Devon jumped in with both feet and has already started Talent Pipeline Management training with the US Chamber of Commerce TPM Academy. In addition, he is joining business consultation calls and meeting with Business Services partners. We are thrilled for the future of DOL Registered Apprenticeship Programs in LWIA 23 with Devon's enthusiasm and guidance!

Curious about our region's job openings? Interested in monthly updates on which sectors have the most vacant positions? Education and experience requirements trends? Data nerd? Just plain nosey? Well, you won't want to miss the most recent HWOL report!

The Help Wanted OnLine® (HWOL) program monitors the number of online job ad openings posted by Illinois employers. This data is produced to provide clarity regarding employment opportunities with information on jobs ads by employer and by occupation in each of the Economic Development Regions (EDR).

Each monthly report only includes *new* job postings during the prior 30 days for the EDR and the Statewide report. This information shows only the employers and occupations that have recently posted job ads so we can provide the most up to date information on available jobs.

We will meet on November 29th at 1pm via Zoom. Hope to see you there!



Talent Pipeline Management Updates

The LWIA 23 Business Services Team is currently working on plans for hosting Sector Roundtable discussions and implementing the Talent Pipeline Management framework to help sector partnerships develop solutions for their talent pipeline challenges.

Share these sector surveys with your networks!

Manufacturing Sector Demand Survey

IT Sector Survey

Hospitality Sector Survey

Talent Pipeline Management Collaboratives play a critical role for employers as a public-private partnership. Through the Collaborative, we are able to organize local, real-time data on the most crucial workforce needs by forecasting the level of demand, communicating hiring requirements, and mapping internal and external pipelines with existing talent sources. In addition, Collaboratives have the power to manage talent supply chains and improve performance through data-backed assessment of training providers.

By working together, employers like you can accomplish more than working alone in addressing your critical workforce needs. Participating in the Collaborative puts strength behind the action in addressing shared pain points such as recruiting, onboarding, career advancement, retention, succession planning, and increasing diversity. As a group, employers can get better responsiveness from training providers and policy-makers. Small employers often do lack the resources or leverage to get the same results as larger employers. Collaboratives provide the needed capacity and advantage to get similar results for small businesses. There is definitely strength in numbers!

Do not miss the chance to join the discussion and reap the rewards of the Manufacturing Talent Pipeline Management^® Collaborative. Complete the surveys above to let us know what workforce challenges your company is facing and to let us know you want in on the action! This quick survey can be completed in less than five minutes. Be sure to tell us who from your company will be the best point of contact for follow up. We have found the best representative(s) for this conversation would be someone who understands what staffing challenges exist for your organization. This will vary from business to business and may be more than one person. 

Effingham County: Quad Graphics Effingham Plant to Close by End of the Year

Effingham Daily News — Quad announced Tuesday that it will cease operations at its Effingham print manufacturing location by the end of 2023.

“The decision was driven by industry-wide volume declines due to ongoing economic uncertainty and increasing postage rates,” the Wisconsin-based company said in a press release.

The Effingham location produces direct mail and employs approximately 350 people. Work currently performed in the Effingham location will be consolidated into other Quad locations with enhanced direct mail capabilities, including 100% variable printing for greater personalization and robust postal optimization programs, such as volume-driven commingling.

“This decision in no way reflects the quality and performance of Quad’s Effingham employees, all of whom have performed well and worked hard to make the location succeed,” the company’s statement said. “Print remains an important and integral part of Quad’s integrated marketing platform, which gives brands and marketers a more streamlined, impactful, flexible and frictionless way to go to market and reach consumers.”

Quad is offering employees incentives to transfer to Quad U.S. facilities where client work is being consolidated.

Employees unable to relocate will be offered a comprehensive separation package that includes separation pay, continuation of health care benefits and career transition assistance through a career counseling company.

A Note from the Director -

LWIA 23's service provider, CEFS, is working closely with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity as well as other supportive workforce agencies to coordinate a Rapid Response event for dislocated workers at Quad. The Rapid Response team will work with the employer to quickly maximize public and private resources to minimize disruptions associated with job loss. The goal is to hold a Rapid Response event that will provide customized services on-site at Quad, accommodate any work schedules, and assist the affected workers through the painful transitions associated with job loss.

We are grateful for the cooperation with Quad and impressed with the swift action from our partners at IDES, Team RED, Effingham Regional Growth Alliance, and the DCEO Office of Employment & Training. Despite the significant hit to the community, the silver lining is how effectively the workforce ecosystem works together to support the individuals impacted by the closure in Effingham.

-Jamie Corda Hadjaoui, Director

We need a dose of good news! What is growing in your communities?



Please contact LWIA 23 to have your events, business news, or other workforce highlights added to the newsletter.

WIOA Wednesday Webinars

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Illinois Workforce Innovation Board (IWIB)

IWIB is responsible for overseeing the development, implementation and modification of the Unified State Plan, convening all relevant programs, required partners and stakeholders, and providing oversight and strategic leadership for the state workforce development system.



Learn more at illinoisworknet.com/WIOA

Workforce GPS

WorkforceGPS is your online technical assistance website created to help build the capacity of America's public workforce investment system. WorkforceGPS was developed specifically for workforce professionals, educators, and business leaders. Here you will find curated communities of interest, useful webinars and other training resources, promising workforce development practices, and relevant evidence-based research – giving you the tools you need to help you create innovative approaches to improve the employment prospects of job seekers.

Learn more at WorkforceGPS.org

ION - Innovation and Opportunity Network

The Innovation and Opportunity Network (ION) is designed to support state and local workforce development boards, system professionals, and employers, helping you find the resources you need to successfully implement the vision of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). With links to guidance documents, the latest technical assistance and training tools, and numerous ways to engage with your peers across the country, ION helps you stay informed and connected as you navigate towards WIOA implementation success. 

Learn more at ION.workforcegps.org

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​WIOA Works Illinois is an online resource to assist business and industry leaders, policy makers, community organizations and workforce professionals in achieving success under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). This site will keep you up-to-date on our state's policies and programs, highlight local innovation by sharing best practices and success stories, and outline specific policies to ensure a skilled workforce for our state's employers.

Learn more at Illinois WorkNet