Boone County is a modest-sized county with a population near 54,000. Belvidere, the largest city in Boone County, makes up for over half the population. Boone County is part of the Rockford Metropolitan Statistical Area Employment in the Rockford statistical area remains strong and diverse with an available workforce of over 174,000. Although Boone County’s labor force is over 27,000, the workforce in a 70-mile radius is attracted to the competitive job opportunities with some of the largest employers in the region.
The Workforce Connection is a partnership of state and federally funded employment and training programs and educational entities committed to providing a workforce that meets the needs of the business community, now and in the future.
The Workforce Connection Board is made up of business and community leaders from Boone, Stephenson and Winnebago counties and is responsible for planning and oversight of the local workforce system and the administration of federal funds.
For nearly 30 years, The Workforce Connection, and its predecessor organizations, have provided workforce services and access to federally-funded programs to both job seekers and employers in Boone County. In recent months, The Workforce Connection program staff has assisted more than 700 individuals in the Belvidere office. The Workforce Connection Business Team hosts an annual hiring event that has grown to become one of the largest job fairs in northern Illinois. Partnerships with Growth Dimensions and the Belvidere Area Chamber of Commerce helps area employers connect to skilled workers and training opportunities they need to be successful.
The Workforce Connection offers services to connect jobseekers to new employment and training and employers to a skilled workforce. Jobseeker services include job search assistance and workshops, career counseling and financial assistance for job training for in-demand jobs in the northern Illinois region. Services available to employers include recruiting, assessments and screening and work-based training, including on-the-job training for new employees and skill upgrades for a company’s existing workforce.
The Workforce Connection has access to the latest employment and labor market information, including wage data and demographics that can be a valuable tool for growing businesses.
For more information on current labor availability, programs and statistics, visit www.theworkforceconnection.org.