Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative
iwerc.bsky.social
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.

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
January 13, 2026 at 2:56 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
January 12, 2026 at 2:57 PM
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...
January 9, 2026 at 1:28 PM
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
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
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...
January 5, 2026 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.
December 30, 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...
December 29, 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.
December 23, 2025 at 4:03 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...
December 22, 2025 at 4:05 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...
December 19, 2025 at 3:15 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...
December 18, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Our latest report with @uchiconsortium.bsky.social and state agency partners finds that students from low-income families were less likely than students from middle- and high-income families to end up in good jobs. Learn more here: dpi.illinois.edu/applied-rese...
December 17, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Just out: The second and final report of the Illinois High School to Work Series, Promising Pathways, identifies the most viable pathways to good jobs for Illinois students from low-income families. Read more: dpi.illinois.edu/applied-rese...
Illinois High School to Career Series
Illinois High School to Career Series
dpi.illinois.edu
December 16, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Last week, IWERC researcher Raisa Blazquez attended the #MultilingualIL25 conference. There is a lot of impressive work being done throughout the state, and at IWERC we are proud to engage in meaningful research to improve the experiences of multilingual students and families in Illinois.
December 15, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Know an experienced quantitative researcher who is passionate about impact in education and workforce development?

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.
December 15, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Congrats to UIC's Jeremy Riel and IWERC's Ying Chen on a new IES grant!
December 12, 2025 at 8:00 PM
As #CSEdWeek 2025 comes to an end, we thank the many people who support CS students every day! At IWERC, we’re fortunate to be just one small part of the Illinois CS Ed community. Learn more about our research in this area: dpi.uillinois.edu/applied-rese...
December 12, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Join us this afternoon as we wrap up our series on CS education in Illinois high schools. Register here: illinois.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
December 11, 2025 at 3:00 PM
IWERC’s latest report on CS ed found that rural and town districts were the least likely to offer any CS programming or employ a CS-endorsed teacher. As Illinois continues to expand CS education, these districts may need additional supports. Read more here: dpi.uillinois.edu/applied-rese...
December 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
IWERC’s new report on computer science education found that as of 2022, 59% of districts offered at least one CS course, signaling a gap in offerings ahead of the then forthcoming mandates from Public Act 101-0654. Read what else we found here: dpi.uillinois.edu/applied-rese...
December 9, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Happy #CSEdWeek! In honor of this, IWERC is releasing the last two reports of our State of Computer Science in Illinois High School Series. Join us later this week at a webinar where we recap the full Series!
Reports: dpi.uillinois.edu/applied-rese...
Webinar: illinois.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
December 8, 2025 at 4:06 PM
ICYMI: IWERC recently released a second-year evaluation of the Teacher Vacancy Grant. Read the full report here: go.illinois.edu/teachervacan...
December 5, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Findings from IWERC’s second-year evaluation of the Teacher Vacancy Grant suggest that some participating districts reduced unfilled teaching positions more than others. To read on, visit go.illinois.edu/teachervacan...
December 4, 2025 at 5:48 PM