Illinois Valley Times

Representative Ryan Spain and Senator Don DeWitte wrote a letter to express concerns about the Illinois Future of Work Task Force.

“Flawed processes create flawed outcomes,” Spain wrote on Facebook.

The Chicago Sun-Times published their letter.

The Illinois Future of Work Task Force was created by the Illinois Future of Work Act (Public Act 102-407) to be proactive and plan for the future of work while simultaneously addressing the state of work today. It consists of members that represent business, labor, education, and the environment, as well as members of the General Assembly and leadership from state executive agencies. 

Responsibilities of the Illinois Future of Work Task Force include: identifying and assessing new and emerging technologies that have the potential to significantly affect employment, wages and skill requirements; developing a set of job standards and working conditions that will ensure that future work in Illinois builds a vibrant middle class; identifying potential jobs of the future and opportunities to shape those jobs for the improvement of life for all of Illinois; compiling research and best practices from other states and countries on how to deploy technology to benefit workers and the public good; developing tools to assess the impact of proposed technologies and evaluate their costs and benefits on workers, employers, the public and the State; identifying policies and practices that will help businesses, workers and communities thrive economically throughout the State of Illinois; and proposing workforce development, training, education, and apprenticeship programs for the jobs of the future.

“Manufacturing in Illinois has increased in recent years, and it was really unfortunate that the task force report didn’t focus on that piece, which is why the business communities voted against the report,” Sarah Hartwick, vice president of Education and Workforce Policy for the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, told The Center Square.

The 36-member task force made up of politicians, representatives of unions and special interest groups and researchers met regularly for nine months to discuss the report's contents and the issues facing the state before publishing it.

The final report contains 58 policy recommendations and several research findings on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labor market and businesses, long-term shifts in the Illinois economy and innovations in technology as well as policy.

It centers on the concept of quality jobs, which the report defines as a job that provides “a family-sustaining wage and benefits package,” including health care and sick leave. Quality jobs, as defined in the report, must also have predictable work schedules and opportunities for advancement.

“Certainly, there is a real call to the consciousness of the private sector to encourage best practices,” said Robert Bruno, labor professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a task force member, to the Chicago Sun-Times. “The state can be a partner either by mandating certain practices or providing other forms of incentives.”

To view the report, go to this PDF.