Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative
@iwerc.bsky.social
IWERC’s mission is to work with community partners across the state to research and co-construct solutions to the most pressing issues in the cradle-to-career, education-to-workforce ecosystem.
Recently, IWERC’s Ying Chen (Co-PI) and UIC collaborator Jeremy Riel (PI) represented our IES-funded SkillTree project in Washington, DC at the Accelerate, Transform, Scale (ATS) Hub meet-up to workshop our project progress. Thank you to Elizabeth Albro, Digital Promise, and IES for hosting.
February 9, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Recently, IWERC’s Ying Chen (Co-PI) and UIC collaborator Jeremy Riel (PI) represented our IES-funded SkillTree project in Washington, DC at the Accelerate, Transform, Scale (ATS) Hub meet-up to workshop our project progress. Thank you to Elizabeth Albro, Digital Promise, and IES for hosting.
IWERC was delighted to be part of an event today on the Illinois Early Childhood Workforce, co-hosted by Latino Policy Forum and Advance Illinois. This event looked back on two seminal reports about the early childhood workforce nationally and in Illinois, while engaging practitioner voices.
February 5, 2026 at 9:53 PM
IWERC was delighted to be part of an event today on the Illinois Early Childhood Workforce, co-hosted by Latino Policy Forum and Advance Illinois. This event looked back on two seminal reports about the early childhood workforce nationally and in Illinois, while engaging practitioner voices.
Join IWERC, @uchiconsortium.bsky.social, and the College and Career Access, Persistence and Success (CCAPS) group on February 25 as we explore the question: What are the most promising and equitable routes to good work for Illinois youth?
Learn more & register here: myforefront.org/event/promis...
Learn more & register here: myforefront.org/event/promis...
Promising Pathways: College and Industry Routes to Good Jobs - Forefront
Join CCAPS as we explore the question: What are the most promising and equitable routes to good work for Illinois...
myforefront.org
February 2, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Join IWERC, @uchiconsortium.bsky.social, and the College and Career Access, Persistence and Success (CCAPS) group on February 25 as we explore the question: What are the most promising and equitable routes to good work for Illinois youth?
Learn more & register here: myforefront.org/event/promis...
Learn more & register here: myforefront.org/event/promis...
Keep up with us in 2026! go.illinois.edu/IWERCnewslet...
January 29, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Keep up with us in 2026! go.illinois.edu/IWERCnewslet...
Join us next week for a discussion of the early childhood workforce. We will be sharing new research in the field and asking for your input on a future Illinois-focused research study. More info below! latinopolicyforum.org/event/illino...
Illinois Early Childhood Education Workforce: What Does Research Say? - Latino Policy Forum
(Abajo en español)Join the Latino Policy Forum, Advance Illinois, the Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative (IWERC), the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Schreiber Philanthropy, and t...
latinopolicyforum.org
January 28, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Join us next week for a discussion of the early childhood workforce. We will be sharing new research in the field and asking for your input on a future Illinois-focused research study. More info below! latinopolicyforum.org/event/illino...
IWERC is proud to assist Illinois State Board of Education as they develop the Illinois Comprehensive Numeracy Plan. We are summarizing stakeholder feedback to support plan development and revision. To learn more about the plan and to read IWERC's first report, go to: www.isbe.net/Pages/Illino...
Illinois Comprehensive Numeracy Plan
www.isbe.net
January 26, 2026 at 3:01 PM
IWERC is proud to assist Illinois State Board of Education as they develop the Illinois Comprehensive Numeracy Plan. We are summarizing stakeholder feedback to support plan development and revision. To learn more about the plan and to read IWERC's first report, go to: www.isbe.net/Pages/Illino...
Reposted by Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative
Did you miss our Tuesday webinar discussing the importance of attendance in @chipubschools.bsky.social and beyond? Catch the replay, featuring research findings and a panel discussion from frontline workers here: consortium.uchicago.edu/resources/st...
January 23, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Did you miss our Tuesday webinar discussing the importance of attendance in @chipubschools.bsky.social and beyond? Catch the replay, featuring research findings and a panel discussion from frontline workers here: consortium.uchicago.edu/resources/st...
Yesterday, researchers from IWERC and @uchiconsortium.bsky.social presented at the Illinois Board of Higher Education board meeting. They shared findings from their studies of economic outcomes for Illinois high schoolers from low-income backgrounds.
January 22, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Yesterday, researchers from IWERC and @uchiconsortium.bsky.social presented at the Illinois Board of Higher Education board meeting. They shared findings from their studies of economic outcomes for Illinois high schoolers from low-income backgrounds.
ICYMI: Our research on computer science education was featured by WMBD-TV in Peoria. Read more: www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-n...
www.centralillinoisproud.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:57 PM
ICYMI: Our research on computer science education was featured by WMBD-TV in Peoria. Read more: www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-n...
ICYMI: Join us Tuesday to talk attendance in Illinois schools!
Learn more about why student attendance matters and what schools can do.
Join us January 20 at 12 pm CT for a 60-minute webinar, featuring:
-New research insights
-Perspectives from city and state leaders
Get the details and register here: uchicagogroup.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Join us January 20 at 12 pm CT for a 60-minute webinar, featuring:
-New research insights
-Perspectives from city and state leaders
Get the details and register here: uchicagogroup.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
January 16, 2026 at 2:10 PM
ICYMI: Join us Tuesday to talk attendance in Illinois schools!
The latest report from the Illinois Creative Workforce Partnership is out now. We asked artists about the challenges and opportunities they encountered in securing and maintaining jobs outside the arts. Read our report to find out what they said: ws.engr.illinois.edu/sitemanager/...
January 15, 2026 at 2:27 PM
The latest report from the Illinois Creative Workforce Partnership is out now. We asked artists about the challenges and opportunities they encountered in securing and maintaining jobs outside the arts. Read our report to find out what they said: ws.engr.illinois.edu/sitemanager/...
The latest report from the Illinois Creative Workforce Partnership is out now. We asked arts graduates about the challenges and opportunities they encountered in securing and maintaining jobs outside the arts. Read our report to find out what they said: ws.engr.illinois.edu/sitemanager/...
January 14, 2026 at 2:39 PM
The latest report from the Illinois Creative Workforce Partnership is out now. We asked arts graduates about the challenges and opportunities they encountered in securing and maintaining jobs outside the arts. Read our report to find out what they said: ws.engr.illinois.edu/sitemanager/...
The latest report from the Illinois Creative Workforce Partnership is out now. We asked artists about challenges and opportunities encountered in securing and maintaining jobs outside the arts. Read our report to learn more: ws.engr.illinois.edu/sitemanager/...
Photo by Paul Green for Unsplash
Photo by Paul Green for Unsplash
January 13, 2026 at 2:56 PM
The latest report from the Illinois Creative Workforce Partnership is out now. We asked artists about challenges and opportunities encountered in securing and maintaining jobs outside the arts. Read our report to learn more: ws.engr.illinois.edu/sitemanager/...
Photo by Paul Green for Unsplash
Photo by Paul Green for Unsplash
Read the latest report from the Illinois Creative Workforce Partnership (ICWP)’s Branching Out Series: ws.engr.illinois.edu/sitemanager/...
Photo by Hulki Okan Tabak on Unsplash
Photo by Hulki Okan Tabak on Unsplash
January 12, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Read the latest report from the Illinois Creative Workforce Partnership (ICWP)’s Branching Out Series: ws.engr.illinois.edu/sitemanager/...
Photo by Hulki Okan Tabak on Unsplash
Photo by Hulki Okan Tabak on Unsplash
Please join us on 1/20 for a discussion of student attendance!
Learn more about why student attendance matters and what schools can do.
Join us January 20 at 12 pm CT for a 60-minute webinar, featuring:
-New research insights
-Perspectives from city and state leaders
Get the details and register here: uchicagogroup.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Join us January 20 at 12 pm CT for a 60-minute webinar, featuring:
-New research insights
-Perspectives from city and state leaders
Get the details and register here: uchicagogroup.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
January 9, 2026 at 1:28 PM
Please join us on 1/20 for a discussion of student attendance!
ICYMI: IWERC is excited to be part of this new IES grant.
Congrats to UIC's Jeremy Riel and IWERC's Ying Chen on a new IES grant!
January 8, 2026 at 2:14 PM
ICYMI: IWERC is excited to be part of this new IES grant.
IWERC is a proud member of NNERPP (@rpp-network.bsky.social). Below is our feature in their annual yearbook, which has stories of impact from RPPs across the country. Thanks, NNERPP!
January 7, 2026 at 3:36 PM
IWERC is a proud member of NNERPP (@rpp-network.bsky.social). Below is our feature in their annual yearbook, which has stories of impact from RPPs across the country. Thanks, NNERPP!
Happy New Year! ICYMI before the break, read more in @chalkbeat.org about our study with @uchiconsortium.bsky.social on upward mobility for Illinois high schoolers.
www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
What’s the best path to a good job? A bachelor’s degree, new Illinois report finds.
New report from the Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative and the UChicago Consortium on School Research found alternative pathways in certain industries, such as construction and ag...
www.chalkbeat.org
January 6, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Happy New Year! ICYMI before the break, read more in @chalkbeat.org about our study with @uchiconsortium.bsky.social on upward mobility for Illinois high schoolers.
www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
Happy Holidays! We enjoyed working and learning with you in 2025. Here's a look back, and we're excited to continue the work in 2026.
mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_22...
mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_22...
January 5, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Happy Holidays! We enjoyed working and learning with you in 2025. Here's a look back, and we're excited to continue the work in 2026.
mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_22...
mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_22...
Looking for a new role in 2026? IWERC is extending its search and #hiring a Visiting Senior Research Specialist. Learn more here: tinyurl.com/IWERC-hire
Application deadline is Jan 11, 2026.
Application deadline is Jan 11, 2026.
December 30, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Looking for a new role in 2026? IWERC is extending its search and #hiring a Visiting Senior Research Specialist. Learn more here: tinyurl.com/IWERC-hire
Application deadline is Jan 11, 2026.
Application deadline is Jan 11, 2026.
Happy Holidays! We enjoyed working and learning with you in 2025. Here's a look back, and we're excited to continue the work in 2026.
mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_22...
mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_22...
December 29, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Happy Holidays! We enjoyed working and learning with you in 2025. Here's a look back, and we're excited to continue the work in 2026.
mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_22...
mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_22...
Looking for a new role in 2026? IWERC is extending its search and #hiring a Visiting Senior Research Specialist. Learn more here: tinyurl.com/IWERC-hire
Application deadline is Jan 11, 2026.
Application deadline is Jan 11, 2026.
December 23, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Looking for a new role in 2026? IWERC is extending its search and #hiring a Visiting Senior Research Specialist. Learn more here: tinyurl.com/IWERC-hire
Application deadline is Jan 11, 2026.
Application deadline is Jan 11, 2026.
Happy Holidays! We enjoyed working and learning with you in 2025. Here's a look back, and we're excited to continue the work in 2026.
mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_22...
mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_22...
December 22, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Happy Holidays! We enjoyed working and learning with you in 2025. Here's a look back, and we're excited to continue the work in 2026.
mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_22...
mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_22...
Even when students from low-income families attained the same level of education, there were racial/ethnic and gender disparities in outcomes. However, these disparities narrowed considerably as degree level increased. Learn more: dpi.illinois.edu/applied-rese...
December 19, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Even when students from low-income families attained the same level of education, there were racial/ethnic and gender disparities in outcomes. However, these disparities narrowed considerably as degree level increased. Learn more: dpi.illinois.edu/applied-rese...
Students from low-income families had vastly different likelihoods of working in a good job depending on their highest degree, according to our latest report. Learn more here: dpi.illinois.edu/applied-rese...
December 18, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Students from low-income families had vastly different likelihoods of working in a good job depending on their highest degree, according to our latest report. Learn more here: dpi.illinois.edu/applied-rese...