Section 02 — Evidence
Why workforce access needs a navigation layer
The Illinois workforce is not short on signal — it is short on coherent pathways. The data below shows the navigation gap across labor, geography, digital access, and existing workforce systems.
Labor market
Opportunity exists, but navigation remains uneven.
Illinois has open jobs and active job-search platforms, but job seekers still need help connecting listings to training, credentials, supports, resumes, and realistic next steps.
Metro & regional
Every Illinois metro saw an over-the-year increase.
The pilot connects Peoria, Normal, and Springfield through a community partner plus two IIN hubs.
Digital readiness
Digital skills are now part of workforce access.
2.9M residents
lack home high-speed internet subscription.
1.3M households
lack home high-speed internet subscription.
17% of residents
find it difficult to afford internet.
14% of residents
had service interruptions due to difficulty paying.
~79% of households
have desktop or laptop access.
11% of residents
find common internet tasks difficult.
24% of residents
speak a language other than English at home.
WIOA proof point
Trusted, local navigation tripled rural foot traffic.
In Program Year 2024, an Illinois rural-outreach initiative grew participating career-resource-room visits from 56 (Jul–Dec 2024) to 170 (Jan–Jun 2025) after community-based outreach and new staff support. Pathways Illinois is built on the same principle: trusted, local navigation works.
Before
56
After
170
Top of the funnel