FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2020
Illinois Manufacturers’ Association Launches “Makers Hiring” Campaign
Awareness Effort Will Match Job Seekers with Open Positions in Manufacturing Sector
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association today launched Makers Hiring, a new public education campaign aimed at matching job seekers with open positions in the manufacturing sector.
Though the coronavirus pandemic has led to a massive increase in unemployment, numerous jobs are available in the manufacturing industry across Illinois. Nearly 50 companies have already registered to participate in Makers Hiring, with employers looking to fill more than 950 open jobs.
Manufacturers are helping lead our state and nation through these troubling times by increasing production of personal protective equipment and medical devices, ensuring our food supply remains strong, and developing lifesaving treatments and vaccines. While total manufacturing jobs are down from this time last year, since April, manufacturers across Illinois have added 28,500 jobs, with the latest survey of business conditions by the Federal Bank of Chicago showing the largest positive jobs trend is in the industrial sector. Nationally, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that the number of open manufacturing jobs increased to 336,000 in June – an increase of 30,000 jobs in one month.
“Manufacturing has answered our nation’s call once again, helping lead our state and nation through the pandemic. While we have a long way to go before we can fully recover, we’re encouraged to see job growth in the state’s manufacturing sector,” said Mark Denzler, president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “However, many companies are struggling to find qualified workers. Our new Makers Hiring campaign will highlight good-paying manufacturing jobs that are open in every corner of Illinois and help connect job seekers with employers.”
Companies with open jobs can register at www.ima-net.org/makers-hiring/ to be showcased as part of the Makers Hiring campaign. The IMA is also partnering with the State of Illinois to ensure that open positions are listed at Get Hired Illinois, where both employers and job seekers can post jobs and seek out positions.
“As a leading state for manufacturing, Illinois is committed to helping more of our residents take advantage of viable careers in this growing industry,” said Michael Negron, acting Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. “Through the new Makers Hiring initiative, we are excited to collaborate with the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and to leverage Illinois’ very own Get Hired portal to help connect more job seekers to thousands of careers available today. Partnership with industry leaders like IMA are essential as Governor Pritzker and the State of Illinois continue to prioritize a public health recovery that will bring more Illinoisans back to work, reopen more businesses, and help strengthen our economic recovery.”
Statewide, manufacturers employ 553,000 women and men on factory floors in good, high-paying jobs. An economic analysis released by the IMA found that manufacturing workers earn an average of more than $80,000 in wages and benefits, with more than 90 percent of workers receiving health care benefits from their employer. Every direct manufacturing job supports an additional 1.6 jobs in other parts of the economy – the single highest multiplier of any sector in Illinois. For every dollar invested in manufacturing, another $1.89 in economic activity is generated elsewhere.
Below is a partial list of Illinois manufacturers that have current positions available. More information can be found at www.ima-net.org/makers-hiring/:
AbbVie (North Chicago); AGCO Corp – The GSI Group (Assumption); Basler Electric Company (Highland); Bison Gear and Engineering (St. Charles); Bison Gear and Engineering (St. Charles); Cap & Seal LP (Elgin); Capron Mfg. (Capron); Clarkson Grain Company, Inc. (Cerro Gordo); Continental Envelope Corporation (Geneva); Deli Star Corporation (Fayetteville); Dubak Electrical Group (La Grange); Ferrara Candy Company (Bellwood); Fiberteq (Danville); Franklin Display Group (Belvidere); General Cable (DuQuoin); Hoffer Plastics (South Elgin); Horween Leather Company (Chicago); Ingersoll Machine Tools, Inc. (Rockford); John Wood Community College (Quincy); Litania Sports Group (Champaign); Mason Manufacturing, LLC (Decatur); Masterbrand Cabinets (Arthur); Mayco Industries (Granite City); Morton Industries (Morton); MTH Pumps (Plano); Nelsen Steel Company (Franklin Park); North American Lighting (Paris and Salem); NTN (Elgin); Nyco Products Company (Countryside); Pioneer Service Inc. (Addison); Rockford Specialties (Loves Park); S&C Electric Company (Chicago); Silgan Closures (Champaign, Downers Grove and Rochelle); SMF INC (Minonk); Solomon Colors, Inc. (Springfield); Springfield Plastics, Inc. (Springfield); Stampede Meat, Inc. (Bridgeview); STC, Inc. (McLeansboro); Taubensee Steel & Wire Co. (Wheeling); The Knapheide Manufacturing Company (Quincy); The Libman Company (Arcola); Titan Wheel Corporation of Illinois (Quincy); Tornos Technologies U.S. Corporation (Des Plaines); Toyota Boshoku Illinois (Lawrenceville); UCAL Systems, Inc. (Elgin); United Scrap Metal (Cicero); Versatech, LLC (Effingham); Wahl Clipper (Sterling).
About the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA)
The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association is the only statewide association dedicated exclusively to advocating, promoting and strengthening the manufacturing sector in Illinois. The IMA is the oldest and largest state manufacturing trade association in the United States, representing nearly 4,000 companies and facilities. For more information, please visit http://ima-net.org/.
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