For Immediate Release

Beyond the Data: True (Local) Stories of the Great Resignation

Who*:

Karin M. Norington-Reaves, CEO, The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (Moderator)

Sarah Ball, Pursuing a Voice Over Career

Patrice Brazil, Talent Acquisition, Worldwide Flight Services

Dr. Philip Hong, Professor and Associate Dean for Research, Loyola University Chicago, School of Social Work; Director, Center for Research on Self Sufficiency

Ann Runkle, Consultant and Entrepreneur

Triste Smith, Chief Strategy Office, Near North Health

*Participants are offering media availability before or after the presentation.

What: The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership invites you to the debut of episode one of its Hire Frequency podcast’s Beyond the Data: Real Stories of the Great Resignation. The episode will be followed by a live, online question and answer session with the podcast participants. Hear first-hand from Chicagoland residents who have re-imagined their professional lives over the past few months; an employer facing a workforce shortage; and an expert who helps us better understand the motivation for these changes. The podcast goes beyond the data and examines the why behind the numbers.

Where: Facebook Live (@chicookworks)

When: Friday, December 10, at 10 am CST

Why: What is causing the workforce disruption one academic called The Great Resignation? In August, more than 4.3 million people quit their jobs and in September, another 4.4 million did the same.  At the same time, job openings were at record levels. Closer to home, local media recently reported that employment in Illinois dropped by 13%, or more than 800,000 jobs, during the worst of the pandemic from January to April of 2020.  Yet, the return to work for Illinois, especially for those workers most affected–women and those historically underserved–hasn’t been as strong as in other parts of the country.

About The Partnership

The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (The Partnership) is a non-profit umbrella organization operating the public workforce system for the City of Chicago and Cook County.

The Partnership combines federal and philanthropic resources to provide comprehensive workforce development services to employers and job seekers. As the largest public workforce development system in the nation, The Partnership has helped place more than 70,000 individuals in employment; collaborated with more than 2,000 employers; and administered more than $400 million in federal and philanthropic funds. The Partnership’s network consists of 90+ community-based organizations, American Job Centers, satellite sites and sector-driven centers, serving more than 140,000 people annually.  Learn more at www.chicookworks.org.