Economic Mobility | Skills for Chicago |

National Expansion

Scaling Impact. Empowering Communities Nationwide.

Skills for America’s Future, an initiative of Skills for Chicago, is bringing our proven jobs-first model to cities across the country. We connect employers with untapped talent, influence hiring practices to remove barriers, and create opportunities that lead to long-term economic mobility for job seekers.

What We Offer

Employer Partnerships
Built on Trust

Custom Technology
Solutions

Collaborative Learning
& Peer Network

Why Our Model Works

Direct Employer Partnerships - Connecting job seekers to companies ready to hire

Hiring Practice Change - Working with employers to eliminate barriers in the job process

Community Driven Impact - partnering with organizations that know their local worforce needs

Hands-On Training - Providing partners with the tools to execute Skills' jobs-first model, tailored to their workforce needs

Our Vision

To bring the Skills jobs-first model to more cities over the next decade, connecting job seekers with quality jobs in high-unemployment areas and driving meaningful change in hiring practices.

Proven Results

24,300+

job seekers placed into meaningful employment

270+

Employer partners engaged nationwide

89%

of placements identify as BIPOC

$375M

in total wage impact

Where We Are Now

Chicago, IL

Our flagship site, Skills for Chicago (formerly Skills for Chicagoland's Future), launched in 2012

Rhode Island

Skills for Rhode Island's Future, launched in 2016

Phoenix, AZ

Connect to Work AZ, launched in partnership with the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation in 2023

Atlanta, GA

Connect to Work GA, launched in partnership with the Metro Atlanta Chamber in 2024

Hartford, CT

Workforce Solutions Collaborative of Metro Hartford, launched in 2024

Join The Movement

We welcome employers, community partners, and donors to join us and help expand our impact. By working together, we can scale this model to bridge the gap between employers and job seekers.

Employers

Meet company’s talent needs with job-ready candidates while improving hiring outcomes.

Community Organizations

Partner with us to bring the Skills model to city.

Donors

Invest in bridging the employment gap and driving economic mobility.

Together, We Can Open Doors To Employment And Empower Communities Nationwide.

Learn how you can be part of this transformative expansion.