Rep. Walker Celebrates Increased Skilled Jobs Training Enrollment, Encourages Growth

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – State Rep. Mark Walker, D-Arlington Heights, is celebrating the Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) announcement that career and technical education (CTE) enrollment has increased and is urging the continued growth of these programs.

“Illinois has a big need for highly-skilled workers in a number of our top industries,” Walker said. “I’m happy to see that we’re training more and more students to be ready for the high-quality, good-paying jobs that will continue to grow our state. I sponsored legislation to grow our CTE programs because building a stronger Illinois means investing in our workers and our economy.”

The ISBE announced in their recently released 2019 Illinois Report Card that CTE enrollment increased by nearly 5,000 students since 2016. Walker sponsored and passed multiple bills supporting CTE development including the 21st Century Employment grant program to expand CTE programs across the state, the Apprenticeship Tax Credit to help employers pay for apprenticeship costs, and legislation supporting existing jobs needing filled.

“We know that a traditional college education isn’t for everyone,” Walker said. “Expanding CTE programs ensures that we have opportunities for students across the state to train for good jobs in some of our leading industries. While we’ve made some great progress, our work continues ensuring long-term growth and access to high-quality, 21st century jobs.”