Catherwood LibraryILR School

States have increasingly turned to workforce training in lieu of tax breaks to encourage companies to settle within their borders. Workforce training has grown in popularity because it boosts a city’s human capital and companies have that they cannot find the type of high skilled workers they need. Illinois, however, offers no training incentives for businesses considering expanding into the state; only businesses already located within the state can take advantage of the resources to train workers. Manufacturers and IT companies, which rely on training assistance from the state, have little reason to settle in Illinois when states like South Carolina, Louisiana, and Georgia have implemented programs that train workers for free. Employers are usually not willing to pay for the costs of training, making these types of programs essential.