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Bridget Gainer
County Commissioner | Cook County, IL

Skills That Matter

Idea Category: Jobs and Entrepreneurship

Problem

With rising tuition costs and high levels of unemployment amongst graduates, college is no longer a guaranteed pathway for everyone to secure a job. Technological advancements and the overwhelming number of unfilled high-skill jobs calls for a revision in how we train future employees to meet the needs of the the 21st century workforce.

Solution

County Commissioner Bridget Gainer has proposed innovative ways to encourage the development of apprenticeship programs that more accurately meet the needs of the 21st century workforce. In Cook County, she has created the first earned credit for employers who create and run a Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program. Having local government collaborate with business leaders, Commissioner Gainer also hopes to help create a pathway for employers to build apprenticeships in non-traditional areas (services and tech industries) where there is projected growth over the next 50 years.