Workforce Development

Economic changes and recent developments in public policy have created new demands on our transit systems. Many communities, whether urban, suburban or rural are looking for solutions to expand existing transit and transportation services to accommodate routes to work, especially for low income families, as a result of new growth outside of central business districts, the development of jobs away from affordable housing for working families, and the expansion of low wage jobs, particularly in the retail and service industries.

This Report takes a look at what government funding is available to support transportation-to-work projects, such as the Job Access and Reverse Commute program; what has driven the interest in these new services for lowwage workers; and how communities can access these funds and serve as a catalyst to creating new services.

The State of Working Illinois reports document how the state’s employment patterns have changed over the last two decades. The most significant trend identified was the replacement of good-paying jobs, mainly in the manufacturing sector, by lower-paying ones, principally in service sectors. This shift has been dramatic. Manufacturing was the largest employer in Illinois in 1990, accounting for slightly more than 20 percent the state’s workers. But by 2006, the low-wage service sector was the top employer, accounting for over 30 percent of all workers in Illinois. This transition from high-wage to low-wage jobs is a topic of vital importance to the state’s economy and to the lives of working Illinoisans and their families. Consequently, Low Wage Employment provides a detailed examination of the state’s low-wage employment, identifying such factors as the occupations, earnings and demographics associated with the low-wage sector.

This Fact Sheet highlights the reasons why raising the minimum wage is needed in Illinois.

“Wage sharing” is an innovative way to use unemployment compensation to prevent layoffs. This Fact Sheet makes the case for why Illinois should enact a wage sharing program.