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A Seamless Talent Pipeline.

With a seamless pipeline from education to employment, DuPage workers find the opportunities they want and employers get the talent they need.

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National-Caliber
Education

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Top Talent +
Skilled Labor

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Organizations that Connect Workers & Employers

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Strong, Sustainable
Businesses

Educated, Skilled, Diverse & Future-Ready.

With more than 640,000 workers in DuPage, our workforce ecosystem is:

Highly Educated: In DuPage County, 53.4% of residents have a bachelor's degree or higher and 1 in 5 residents have a graduate degree. This makes DuPage County the state's leader in educational attainment and among the top counties in the nation.

Diversely Skilled: Diverse economies are home to diverse talent. In DuPage, no single industry represents more than 10% of the GDP, giving employers access to workers experienced across a wide range of sectors.

Seamlessly Connected: In DuPage, organizations like Choose DuPage, Innovation DuPage, workNet DuPage and the DuPage Regional Office of Education collaborate with local businesses and academic institutions to connect employers and talent. Although the national labor market is extremely competitive, these organizations help DuPage businesses find the talent they need.

Trained to Succeed: In DuPage County, the DuPage Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee – a joint apprenticeship program between the National Electrical Contractors Association and the IBEW – trains the next generation of skilled laborers in state-of-the-art facilities.

Ready for Tomorrow: DuPage is home to 19 accredited colleges and universities, as well as 44 national-caliber public school districts serving more than 150,000 students. In DuPage, high school students have a 93.8% graduation rate. And when school's out, graduates easily find work thanks to work-placement programs and internships from the DuPage Regional Office of Education.

Plugged into Chicago's Talent Pool: Beyond DuPage, Chicagoland is home to a massive pool of workers with a diverse range of skills and some of the nation's top talent. Thanks to the area's excellent public transportation infrastructure – including Metra trains, PACE buses, and innovative first- and last-mile solutions – this workforce can easily commute to DuPage businesses.

Home to Innovative Talent: With two of the United States' 18 national laboratories – Argonne and Fermilab – located in DuPage, the region is home to the highest concentration of world-class research institutions in the country

Because of these organizations and other innovative businesses in the region, DuPage,has become a magnet for some of the world's most sought-after talent. Businesses in DuPage have drawn from this talent pool to staff innovation centers and R&D facilities, including West Chicago's Ball Helix Innovation Center and the Greenleaf Foods Innovation Center in Lisle, among others.

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education
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What's in the pipeline?

workNet DuPage trains local workers for high-demand fields and connects employers to qualified professionals, creating a talent pipeline to fill employment gaps. More than 200 individuals are currently enrolled, training for careers in healthcare, IT and other key industries.

Worknet Talent Pool Breakdown

workforce pie chart

Top Programs

Healthcare
  • Registered Nurse (RN)
  • Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
  • Clinical Medical Assistant
IT & Information Management
  • Project Management Professional (PMP)
  • Agile Certifications (CSM, CSPO, PMI-ACP, SAFe)
  • AWS Certified Associate
  • Network Administrator/Upser Support
  • Business/Data Analyst
  • Information Security
Manufacturing & Skilled Trades
  • CNC Machining & Quality Control
  • HVAC Installer & Maintenance Tech
  • Automotive Technician
  • Welding Technology
CDL/TDL
  • Commercial Truck Driver (Class A CDL)
  • Supply Chain Professional
Other Professional & Administrative
  • Executive Assistant
  • Paralegal
  • Human Resources Professional
  • Digital Marketing

Get Connected to Qualified Professionals in Your Industry

Find Talent Now

Resources for Employers: Connect to Talent

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Innovation DuPage

This non-profit organization connects small businesses and startups to talent and expert guidance, along with helpful resources and programs.

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workNet DuPage Career Center

Focused on IT, healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation industries, workNet helps train and develop the DuPage workforce while connecting employers and talent.

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COD: Project Higher Ed

Businesses can connect with talent while teaching students valuable skills in this College of DuPage apprenticeship program.

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Resources for Talent: Find your Opportunity

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workNet DuPage Career Center: Learn real-world skills, get valuable experience and take advantage of free education and career counseling through this helpful service, which primarily focuses on the manufacturing industry.

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Youth Apprenticeship Program High school students can train for future careers and college while building valuable connections through this DuPage Regional Office of Education initiative.

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