<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=880568375352524&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">

Connecting People to Jobs

We reduce barriers and increase equity.  
The biggest barrier to equity in job search is a professional network. Many job seekers are overlooked because they do not have the connections that can help them get through the hiring process. By developing a strong network of trusted employer partners, Skills has created a network that our talented job seekers can tap into. 

Our model helps our candidates connect directly to hiring managers, giving them the tools and connections to succeed. Our focus on the south and west sides of Chicago helps us impact economic mobility in Chicago's historically under invested communities. 

We Bridge the Access Gap

As a nonprofit organization, we remove barriers to employment by eliminating biases that disqualify candidates unnecessarily. Working with local and global companies, we bring opportunities in corporate America to Chicago’s neighborhoods. Together with our partners, we’re proving equity works.

Learn more

12,150+

Candidates placed into jobs

130+

Employer Partners

$278.1M

Total Wage Impact

We Start with the Biggest Hurdle in Job Search: Connections to Employers

Skills works directly with companies to identify their hiring needs, build trusted relationships, and understand their hiring process. We then recruit diverse job seekers who are unemployed or underemployed—working under 32 hours a week or working outside their field—to fit those open opportunities, giving them the tools and contacts to succeed in the hiring process. 

human figures on a palm icon

We drive inclusive hiring

Many of our employers are hiring in South and West Side neighborhoods, and our recruitment efforts—including strategic marketing and sourcing—connect applicants with jobs nearby.

maps icon

We’re where you need us

We opened our Englewood office in 2021, our North Lawndale office in 2022, and our Gage Park office in 2023! Along with our Loop office and flexible virtual presence, we’ve reduced barriers and become more accessible to job seekers.

neighborhood houses icon

We champion local neighborhoods

Our team works with leading companies looking to grow their business and locate within a neighborhood to drive economic investment and mobility for local residents.

network

We don’t do it alone

We’re part of the local workforce ecosystem, a network of community-based organizations that provide resources and services to local job seekers. Our partnerships with other organizations allow us to reach more job seekers and create a larger impact in the communities we serve.

Support Our Work

We can’t do our work without you. Each of the 11,400+ candidates we've helped place into jobs has a unique story. Your support helps us connect great overlooked talent with employers.

And we need your support to meet and exceed our goals for years to come. Help us impact economic mobility for local jobseekers.

Donate today
Our partnership works because of the dedication on both ends. The constant communication and the process we have in place help us achieve success. Skills has a lot of passion, and it's in line with my passion for wanting to help people."
Sharon Stevens Sr. Associate Recruiter – Corporate Recruiting JPMorgan Chase
chase bank

Sorry!

No items currently match your filtering criteria.

Additional Updates and Resources

bullseye icon

Our Mission & Vision

Our mission is to create demand-driven solutions for employers to get the unemployed and underemployed back to work.

Our vision is to continuously meet employers' talent needs to create economic opportunity for the unemployed and underemployed.

Our North Star

To increase the economic mobility of under- and unemployed talent by connecting them to quality jobs through our deep partnership and understanding of the unique human capital needs of our network of engaged employers.

Our Values

  • Enthusiasm for the mission

  • Equity

  • Integrity

  • Change

  • Intellectual Curiosity

  • Impact

  • Data-Driven

Join Our Newsletter