Manley Shares Free Job Training Resources for Laid Off Workers

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – To help those that have been laid off recently, state Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, is highlighting a new free job training resource for Illinoisans who have been furloughed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Through no fault of their own, many Illinoisans have been laid off in recent months due to temporary closures to slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Manley. “While unemployment rates continue to skyrocket and so many families still face uncertainty, it is critical that we find creative solutions to help train workers for new opportunities in the workforce.”

The State of Illinois is partnering with the online higher education platform Coursera to offer unemployed Illinoisans free courses in various topics including information technology and job readiness skills like business writing and persuasive communication. Illinois is one of the first states in the nation to provide free online job training courses to its residents.

Registration for the online courses is available now through September at https://www.coursera.org/government/workforce-recovery. All courses must be completed by December 31, 2020. Participants may earn industry-recognized credentials as well as building their information base and can continue their education at local community colleges.

To support Illinoisans that are out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Manley helped pass Senate Bill 471, which would expand eligibility for unemployment resources by allowing laid off and furloughed workers to receive a larger percentage of their previous income through unemployment.

 “I urge those that have been laid off to take advantage of these free resources to expand their skillset, and adapt to the post-COVID economy as our employment landscape continues to shift and evolve,” continued Manley. “Rebuilding our economy and helping residents get back to work are top priorities of mine, so I encourage residents that have questions about unemployment or any other issues related to COVID-19 to reach out to my office at 815-725-2741.”