Bill on Pritzker’s desk would let high-schoolers take more career classes
Gov. J.B. Pritzker could expand access to training for high school students in careers such as welding and web development.
A bill on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk would help close Illinois’ career skills gap by allowing high school students to take more career and technical education courses before graduation.
Senate Bill 3070 would give high school students the option, starting in 2028-29, of completing two years of career education courses in lieu of the two-year foreign language requirements that kick in that school year.
Career education courses prepare students for skilled, high-demand careers like welding, auto repair and web development through hands-on instruction and real-world learning.
Many students graduate from high school without the workforce skills employers want. Career and technical education courses offer a practical solution, particularly for students who don’t pursue a college degree.
American Institutes for Research found that students participating in high-quality career education programs experience stronger workforce outcomes, including higher employment rates and increased earnings, particularly in high-demand industries.
For a state struggling with one of the nation’s highest unemployment rates, expanding workforce readiness before graduation could strengthen Illinois’ economy and create more opportunities for young people.
The unemployment rate in Illinois was 5.1% in June, among the highest in the country, with almost 330,000 jobless residents.
The problem is worse among younger Illinoisans, with ages 16 to 19 at an unemployment rate of 17.6% in 2025 and ages 20 to 24 at 9.3%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Illinois had 219,000 job openings in December 2025. A gap in skills could be preventing employers from filling some of them.
Every Illinoisan deserves the opportunity to gain dignified, lasting employment. If Pritzker signs this bill into law, students will have the option to gain workforce training in industries that may better align with their goals.