The state of Illinois implements a multitude of workforce and skill development programming across several agencies. Education, economic development, and human service systems all contribute to a robust network of resources for job seekers and businesses seeking to increase opportunity for Illinois residents. Historically, each program had their own data systems, often housed at different agencies, and were not connected to each other. This makes it nearly impossible to track individual outcomes from education to career.

To address this gap, the Inclusive Economy Lab (IEL) worked with the Illinois Department of Employment Security, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and others to launch the Workforce Data Quality Initiative in Illinois. WDQI is a federal funded effort to support the development of interconnected program data systems that can track program impact and individual trajectories across systems. 

IEL is providing technical assistance in matching data sets across agencies and conducting program evaluations of statewide workforce development services. The first two studies looked at the impact of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) training services and Reemployment Services Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) workshops. Both federally funded programs, WIOA provides intensive career coaching and direct funding for skill development; and RESEA supports people receiving unemployment insurance with an individualized assessment and an overview of available workforce development services.

Our studies provide valuable insights to state policy makers including how investments in training impact individual level employment and wages over time. Click on the studies below to download them.

Workforce Data Quality Initiative RESEA Program Analysis Program Evaluation: Measuring the Impact of Training for Job Seekers Enrolled in Intensive Career Services