We Bridge the Access Gap

We believe that everyone should have equal access to jobs. At Skills, we work to make that possible by reducing barriers to employment through partnering with leading companies ready to hire unemployed and underemployed job seekers. Jobs can be life-changing, and we're here to make that a reality.

We start with the job

Our Mission

Create demand-driven solutions for employers to get the unemployed and underemployed back to work.

Our Vision

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.

We prove that equity works

And we're committed to growing our impact over the next three years by scaling our demand-driven programs, diversifying job types, and driving innovation—with the end goal of placing 4,500 unemployed and underemployed candidates into roles that drive their career growth and financial mobility.

Learn about our Strategic Plan

9,565+

lifetime placements

120+

employer partners

74%

of 2021 placements are female

96%

of 2021 placements are BIPOC

$6,120

more earned by Skills placement each year

$192.8M

total wage impact

Read our 2021 Impact Report

Meeting Job Seekers Where They Live

Over 70% of our applicants come from historically underserved neighborhoods on Chicago’s South and West Sides. To make good on our commitment to reduce barriers to employment and build access to economic opportunity, we launched Skills Neighborhood Link, an initiative to provide resources and one-on-one support from the Skills team in city neighborhoods. We opened our Englewood office in July 2021, and a new office on the West Side is slated for 2022.

Chicago Locations

Loop

191 N. Upper Wacker Dr., Suite 1150
Chicago, IL 60606

Englewood

815 W. 63rd St., Second Floor
Chicago, IL 60621

Member of the Greater Englewood Community Development Corporation

Expanding our network

We recently announced plans to expand our jobs-first workforce development model to 25 sites nationally over the next 10 years. Current Skills sites in Chicago and Rhode Island have generated a combined economic impact of $307.3M since 2012.

Discover how you can transform lives and champion economic mobility in your city or region by joining the Skills network.

Learn more

OUR BOARD

SKILLS BOARD CHAIRS

Penny Pritzker

Founding Board Chair

Founder and Chairman of PSP Partners; Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce

2012-2013

Glenn Tilton

Former Midwest Chairman of JPMorgan Chase & Co; Former Chairman of United Continental Holdings

2013-2015

Greg Brown

Chairman and CEO of Motorola Solutions

2015-2018

Mark Hoplamazian

President and Chief Executive Officer of Hyatt Hotels Corporation

2018-Present

OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM

Join Our Team

Do you have a passion for workforce development and impacting the economic mobility of Chicago’s historically underserved communities? If you also value intellectual curiosity and data-driven solutions, innovation and change, and equity and integrity, we invite you to browse open positions at Skills and apply today.

Join Our Team