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Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative

The goal of the Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative (“10% apprenticeship goal”) is that for projects estimated to cost $500,000 or more, apprentices will perform either 10% of the total labor hours actually worked in each prevailing wage classification or 10% of the estimated labor hours in each prevailing wage classification, whichever is less.  The 10% apprenticeship goal applies to projects being paid for in whole or in part by appropriated capital funds to construct a public work either through a contract, grant, or loan issued by a state agency. The State agency funding the project is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative for all contracts, grants, or loans it administers. 

For information on applicability, please contact the contract, grant, or loan manager at the State agency managing your contract, grant, or loan.

2023 Legislative Changes and their Impact on the Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative Goal

In July 2023, Governor Pritzker signed into law a new legislated goal that will increase opportunities for graduates, strengthen the pipeline for the program, and more seamlessly integrate the pre-apprenticeship programs into existing apprenticeship goals.  The new legislative updates require that (5%), half of the (10%) goal of the apprenticeship hours for each classification must be performed by apprentices who graduated from the Illinois Works Pre-apprenticeship, Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship, or Highway Construction Careers programs.

How the Legislative Changes Impact the Compliance Process

The Apprenticeship Initiative updated all compliance forms to capture the new compliance goal.

All contracts, grants, or loans executed prior to the Illinois Works Jobs Progra0m Act updates on July 28, 2023, use the following documents: All contracts, grants, or loans executed after the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act updates on July 28, 2023, use the following documents:
 

Next Steps

The Apprenticeship Initiative will conduct the following information webinars related to the legislative changes, updated compliance forms, and the updates to Smartsheet platform, along with offering Technical Assistance sessions to state agency staff, as needed.

  • Quarterly information webinars on Legislative Changes/Updates for state agency staff. (TBD)
  • Monthly information webinars for contractors, grantees, loan recipients, and consulting engineers. (TBD)
  • One-on-one Technical Assistance sessions will be provided to state agency staff at their request.
  • For general program questions, please contact the Illinois Works Office at CEO.ApprenticeshipInitiative@Illinois.gov

Contractors

We encourage you to reach out to Career Services if you are having difficulty locating Illinois Works Pre-apprenticeship Program graduates to comply with the new Apprenticeship Initiative goal.